Nola
Ten years ago you almost made me marry the wrong man
Your hot flower scented sidewalks with screened in porches
luring one to set back and sip something in the steamy heat
where moss hangs like the shrouds of wandering ghosts from tall shade trees
"stay awhile y'all" in the accent of a Garden District matron
You have a piece of sweet fried dough for me
powdered sugar to sweeten my breath
chicory coffee to wash it down
a daquiri from the drive through window
a candle shaped like the goddess from the Divine Light on Magazine
oil of John the Conquerer
You warned me not to go out in the Quarter at night
That the graveyard on Basin street was no place for a white woman
Yet you whispered " there is power in dangerous places"
Draw a cross in red brick dust on Marie's grave
for protection
I was never afraid of you
at night only good spirits floated out from your iron balconies
beckoning me to stay forever
You put your hand in mine, scented like gardenias and chocolate
and when Paul and I broke things off I was sorry to bid you farewell
We always knew the turmoil of your spirit would lure the elements of wind and water
That an outpouring of your emotions would wipe out everything in its path
Locals confided- a hurricane aimed this way will destroy everything
That's just a reality we live with
the edge of a maelstrom of weather and humanity
After the storm they raped and murdered you
they left you on a roof to die
I will dry your body and oil it with rose attar
wrap it in a linen sheet tied with red ribbons
The Orishas will kiss and embrace you
armed with your mighty thigh bones
they shall have their revenge
Your hot flower scented sidewalks with screened in porches
luring one to set back and sip something in the steamy heat
where moss hangs like the shrouds of wandering ghosts from tall shade trees
"stay awhile y'all" in the accent of a Garden District matron
You have a piece of sweet fried dough for me
powdered sugar to sweeten my breath
chicory coffee to wash it down
a daquiri from the drive through window
a candle shaped like the goddess from the Divine Light on Magazine
oil of John the Conquerer
You warned me not to go out in the Quarter at night
That the graveyard on Basin street was no place for a white woman
Yet you whispered " there is power in dangerous places"
Draw a cross in red brick dust on Marie's grave
for protection
I was never afraid of you
at night only good spirits floated out from your iron balconies
beckoning me to stay forever
You put your hand in mine, scented like gardenias and chocolate
and when Paul and I broke things off I was sorry to bid you farewell
We always knew the turmoil of your spirit would lure the elements of wind and water
That an outpouring of your emotions would wipe out everything in its path
Locals confided- a hurricane aimed this way will destroy everything
That's just a reality we live with
the edge of a maelstrom of weather and humanity
After the storm they raped and murdered you
they left you on a roof to die
I will dry your body and oil it with rose attar
wrap it in a linen sheet tied with red ribbons
The Orishas will kiss and embrace you
armed with your mighty thigh bones
they shall have their revenge