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rich-pa
Member
since 2000-02-07
Posts 317
New Orleans, Louisiana

0 posted 2000-02-17 03:19 PM


'ah weep fo' what we done los'
what mah' fam'ly done los'.
'ah weep fo' da loss of knowledge
-how da ol' people speak
an' 'ah neva' understan'
mah' people an' i
not know'n' what we ought
we done learn' 'bout our lan'
da swamp an' da water
how ta hunt it
how ta fish it
how ta ten' it ta our survival
but what 'bout our tradition?
an' our value?
an' our hist'ry?
an' our language?
all dis we done forgot
yet we cry out
in da tongue
o' other people's forefather
"we are acadian
da hunters
da fishers
da leg'cy o'Louisiane!
an' one o' 'dese day
we will got wha' we done los' once again!"



[This message has been edited by rich-pa (edited 02-17-2000).]

© Copyright 2000 rich cooper - All Rights Reserved
Gene
Senior Member
since 2000-01-23
Posts 935
Colorado, USA
1 posted 2000-02-17 03:39 PM


Ah say, ah say sihr, datsa mytah fine poem ya dun rote dahr.

How 'bout call'n it, "Bayou Bah Me" ?

~Gene

Munda
Member Elite
since 1999-10-08
Posts 3544
The Hague, The Netherlands
2 posted 2000-02-17 05:59 PM


Oh my goodness, this is too much for my Dutch mind ! LOL I think I like what I just read, but can't be sure !  
rich-pa
Member
since 2000-02-07
Posts 317
New Orleans, Louisiana
3 posted 2000-02-17 07:41 PM


sorry 'bout dat munda.  i was going for the thick accents associated with my people(the cajun french).  i left out a lot of it fearing it would be too thick for anyone to comprehend.

rich-pa

Another Heather
Member
since 2000-02-17
Posts 93
Canada
4 posted 2000-02-18 03:47 AM


hi! great poem. it`s always fun reading these things outloud. as for a title suggestion the only thing that came to mind is "What we know" or i guess "Wah we knaow" or something.
Janet Marie
Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554

5 posted 2000-02-18 01:21 PM


this is SO great..creative and FUN!!!
love the ethnic flavor...made me hungry for gumbo!!
enjoyed this..janet marie

 "Bring it on baby what you getting into...
I swear at once it was the little things that mattered--
But it all seems true to you.
Say the hell with my name and say the hell with my picture...
but swear, for the one time you need me around.
And here I'll stand like it matters...
Only once love gets through then gets scattered by the rain...
But pain gives me the right to be unkind"...
Tabitha's Secret


Munda
Member Elite
since 1999-10-08
Posts 3544
The Hague, The Netherlands
6 posted 2000-02-18 03:08 PM


It doesn't matter rich-pa   I like different things, even if I don't comprehend it fully  
rich-pa
Member
since 2000-02-07
Posts 317
New Orleans, Louisiana
7 posted 2000-02-18 03:13 PM


just for you munda, the grammatically correct version:

i weep for what we have lost
what my family has lost.
i weep for the loss of knowledge
-how the old people speak
and i never understand
my people and i
not knowing what we should
we've learned about our land
the swamp and the water
how to hunt it
how to fish it
how to tend it to our survival
but what about our traditions?
and our values?
and our history?
and our language?
all of this we have forgotten
yet we cry out
in the tongue
of other people's forefathers
"we are acadian
the hunters
the fishers
the legacy of Louisiane!
and one of these days
we will have what we lost once again!"

kitkat
Senior Member
since 2000-01-11
Posts 878
Nova Scotia
8 posted 2000-02-18 04:27 PM


I enjoyed this piece very much. The way you tried to bring your reader to Louisiana was great. As far as a title I don't know maybe something like "Return of the Legacy"
Elizabeth Santos
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269
Pennsylvania
9 posted 2000-02-19 06:17 AM


Suggestion - "ah is aweepin'"

Excellent material here
I enjoyed it

Bbuzz
Member
since 1999-12-17
Posts 76
Washinton State
10 posted 2000-02-19 03:56 PM


How about " Weep Fo' Da Los' Leg'cy". I wish I could see what you left out!
tom
Member
since 2000-01-26
Posts 90
s/w penna u.s.a.
11 posted 2000-02-20 10:36 AM


How about "listen to whats said"
just a thought.

Exile
Junior Member
since 2000-01-23
Posts 42

12 posted 2000-02-20 01:02 PM


Monsieur, as a historian, and as my family's genealogist, this is a very moving piece. It would be presumptuous of me to suggest a name for it; but may I suggest that the name at least should be in Cajun French?

Having heard the dialect that you're so ably transcribing, I miss only the French words thrown in two or three to a sentence, that I'm used to hearing.

I hope that you and your family are doing what you can to salvage and preserve your traditions and heritage, for those who come after. This is one of the things that I've devoted my life to, although my background and traditions are much different (a farm family in rural northern Michigan).

The best of fortune to you, Monsieur, in passing this on to the future.

rich-pa
Member
since 2000-02-07
Posts 317
New Orleans, Louisiana
13 posted 2000-02-20 02:26 PM


and on that note exile, i transcend the levels of normal titles' and move into the world of cajun french.  thanks.
Little_Spyro
Senior Member
since 2000-01-09
Posts 659
San Diego, CA, USA
14 posted 2000-02-20 02:30 PM


Well, some people above said that they couldn't really understand this...well, I did! Beautiful piece you've got here, rich-pa!
I can almost feel what was lost.

Thanks for the excellent read!  


Little Spyro T. Dragon

Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648

15 posted 2000-02-21 07:09 PM


Wonderful poem, Rich! I enjoyed this!

Denise

Beverly
Member
since 2000-02-19
Posts 123
New Mexico
16 posted 2000-02-21 07:52 PM


Rich-pa...Lov'ly poem.  Such insight to your heritage quest.  After reading, I found myself pondering about my own Irish/German ancestry.  Quite moving.  I am not too familiar with the cajun dialect, but like several of the other readers...would like to see a few of the  french words incorporated into the poem.  That way I, as the reader could "feel"  a little more of the cajun flavor.  Truly enjoyable reading...Thank you!  I like your style.
rich-pa
Member
since 2000-02-07
Posts 317
New Orleans, Louisiana
17 posted 2000-02-22 05:59 PM


alright, i know bits and pieces of cajun french but not enough to do what i want, anyone who know french please e-mail me at beatknght richpa@aol.com.  
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