Nawlins Midsummer

Half busted moon slides across
A night of not much else
Drums beat in a far corner
Quiet are all the Christians’ bells

Too early for sin on a Nawlins porch
Summer-weary friends meet to meet
John facebooks the yard to full
Rosemary arrives and all smiles turn sweet

Half busted moon brushes the wan horizon
People couple and make across the yard to part
John bides all to safely walk and drive
Some head to the Maple Leaf for some sinning to start

Drums warming in a far corner
Still quiet are all those Christian bells
A hot guitar lick kicks the night in gear—
Oh the promise Rosemary’s glinting eye tells

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Let’s GO!

No one cares what words I sling.
No one cares what desperate prayers I sing.
All they want is a path to follow.
All you want is some truth to swallow.

I hear some lives matter more than most,
But I’ve stopped praying to the Holy Ghost.
Love Thy Neighbor is lost in the Six O’Clock News
And every Sunday empty are Holy Name’s prized pews.

My friend is a one hard working Mother;
She’s quite lovely, like none other.
Oh yeah, she’s one African-American
With a white friend— this Earthling man.

I’m sick of race, ‘cept the Triple Crown.
Love is an embrace, get That idea down!
Don’t need no politician to say what’s so;
Come on Earthlings, Life’s a party—Let’s GO!

Bon Soir

Bon soir, bon soir,
Mais oui, de cours:
ISIS came with their bang bang guns;
ISIS tried to make some big score.
Bon jour, bon jour,
S’il vous plait,
But we’re still living here—
Eating, drinking, and loving all day!
Allons, allons,
N’allons aller:
Paris is still open—
Come on over and let’s play!
Wear your hijab, your cross, your star,
But it’s a smile that’ll take you far!

#jesuisparisien

Jezebel’s Halloween

The scarred foil yielded,
Merlot found the bottom where dregs lay;
A cork sealed again,
Words limbered as Fall rains fell all day.

No pictures were ever sent from Pearlington.
Another’s dream has left the Pass,
Uncommon memories fade;
Time to refill one’s paisley-stained glass.

The black cat dropped down
Licking a lank paw;
A last leaf spirals to stillness
Alone in Death’s maw.

That chill in the middle of the back
Mocks the dread in your gut;
The screech-shriek died in a jaw slack;
Not in fear, twas anything but.

A stab of lightening you will recall,
Lit the surprise awaiting us all—
Jezebel was alive!
Then, your last fall.

It was just a simple October,
A parceled out poor Saturday.
A scandal of rains hung low,
But things were going your way.

Of course you were invited!
You’d bought that ruby bottle;
The costume party hinted promise,
And the fun engine roared to full throttle.

The storm rains had burst forth
As all the corks let fly.
Twas warm in the foyer
And your love you did espy.

The oriel would be deserted,
So Jezebel led you away:
Promises yielded to plea;
Yes, you could stay.

Upriver the dam was holding
As the partygoers were off at last.
Yes, alone with your Jezebel—
Passion unleashed as costumes off-cast.

But no one heard the rush…
Addams’ Dam was no more.
The wall of water they say
Was high—35 feet or two score.

Awakening drowning atumble,
You and Jezebel tried to cling to bedclothes,
But no succor there would be found;
Swept away as flood’s torrent flows.

Finding at long last each other;
Fear full afloat while loss uplifted;
The roar of the Onion Falls called.
You knew, only one can be shifted.

Grabbing Jezebel one time last,
You kicked for the nearing shore.
Flinging with all your might…
Her lips never to taste evermore.

A stab of lightening lit your Jezebel:
Safe on a branch was your fair miss—
She made it!
She reached… as you embraced the abyss.

Witches each year prowl the precincts
In company with jack-o’-lantern’s snarl obscene.
But things won’t ever be the same,
Not for Jezebel’s Halloween.