She told me New Orleans
was a dying city
and everyone staying there
Dies with it
But she has never been kissed
by a lover
for a portrait
in front of St. Louis Cathedral
as the sun sets on Jackson Square
She’s never dripped with sweat
dancing to the rhythm
of Preservation Hall Jazz Band
at Tipitina’s on a Friday night
and walked the French Quarter
with the Krewe de Vieux the night after
She’s never spent a night
Hosting a couple of poets on a road trip
and their girl Molly
painting the town red
Until the sunrise paints Ms. Mae’s purple.
She didn’t realize that our art galleries are redundant, because the city itself is a masterpiece,
Built and painted century by century,
by the French and Spanish and Creoles
that made their way here.
She’s never been to St. Claude and Dumaine,
and sure as hell never seen the Zulu King,
she don’t know a damn thing about
the Congo Square,
she can’t say shit about
the smell in the air,
Seafood and spice and excitement,
Humidity thick as gumbo,
Coats my Sicilian skin sticky,
until sweat rolls down
all over my body,
Slow and lazy
like the Mississippi River.
She said there’s a darkness here,
and I say of course there is,
She’s 300 years old and seen fire and rain and flood and slavery and vampires.
It will take all this and more to wash her away,
even though she’s sinking
as I speak.
New Orleans is about shining a light
In spite of a darkness,
It’s about gratitude,
and joie de vivre,
A passion for life,
Moment by savory moment.
It’s about swagger,
and authenticity,
and strutting’ your stuff
like a one man parade.
I grew up on a bayou,
and my Paw Paw would Sunday drive me
around town as Fats Domino sang
about walkin’ to New Orleans.
I envisioned a city of
magic, music, mystery, and history,
every brick with a story to tell
and a secret to keep.
I walked a long way,
and I’m finally where I belong.
Thoroughly enjoying my life,
soaking up every minute
with gratitude,
as I’m walkin’ in New Orleans.
Mason Rodrigue is a former USMC machine gunner. Listen to his most recent interview on the Savage Wonder podcast here.
Buy Rock Eater
Support Mason here.
What’s happening at VetRep…
Catch our interview with Playwright Arianna Rose on the Savage Wonder Podcast this week.
Registration is live for our first acting and playwriting classes! The classes are being offered at our Quaker Ave. location on February 22nd and March 4th. Find more details and register here.