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Open Poetry #46
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New Orleans Cemetery Tour
| Open Poetry #46 |
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New Orleans Cemetery Tour |
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JerryPat Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991Louisiana/America 
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Come with me, willya, got sumtin' ta see, Who's buried down in Nawleans by decree. Mausoleums and crypts hold those who have died, Above the ground is where the dead reside. There! Take a good look at that one of brick, Peg-leg William's there, known as wooden dick. The goose girl of the Vieux Carre is here, A little loony, but she was a dear. St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, On Rampart Street and the oldest, bar none. You might happen to see something that glows, It's just the Voodoo Queen, Marie Laveau. St. Louis Cemetery No. 2, Was put there because the dead just grew. It is here you might not want to tarry, Bad things happen to those not so wary. St. Louis Cemetery No. 3, Byzantine tomb, Hellenic potpourri. Ernest Belloq is here, quiet as a mouse, Picture taker of Storyville cathouse. Lafayette Cemetery No. 1, Movies are made here, not to be outdone. Commander's Palace is near for to eat, If Ann Rice's vampires you do not meet. St. Roch Cemetery, off beaten track, Chapel by Father Thevis on a plaque. To pray for Yellow Fever victims' soul, Don't want to miss this when out for a stroll. Metairie Cemetery is awesome, Roman, Egyptian influence here, old chum. Civil War memorials, over there, Respecting the dead and all those that bled. Cypress Grove Cemetery for brave men; Commemorates firemen who are with kin. Chinese represented with Soon On Tong, For the émigrés looking to belong. Greenwood Cemetery, cultural tombs, Elks Society did help this one bloom. Let us not forget John Kennedy Toole, A Confederacy of Dunces . . . fool. Hebrew Rest Cemetery for the Jews, For those of that ilk looking for the new. Along with Gates of Prayer Cemetery, The Lighthouse For The Blind, a place to pray. End of tour. If you were looking for ghosts, I hope you found some who were not so gross. A special town with history galore, Oh yeah, and when you leave, please shut the door. |
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| © Copyright 2010 Jerry Pat Bolton - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
I have had the pleasure of visiting only a small sum of your area back in 1999 just prior to the changing of the year... It is beautiful in my memory still. In fact, I even wrote a couple of poems about the time there... and I want to come back. |
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JerryPat Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991Louisiana/America |
Things have changed since Katrina. New Orleans isn't the same, although they keep the tourist trade going pretty good. There are still decrepit houses which have never been removed or fixed. There are some areas which I doubt will ever be attended to the way it was and is supposed to. Corrupt Louisiana politicians, however, are still doing quite well. Thank you for reading and commenting on my poem. The cemeteries took a huge hit with Katrina also. Listen to me. This is still a vibrant part of the nation with a different culture than almost anywhere, and the Cajuns are trying to hold onto it. It is still a laissez les bon temps rouler kind of place. . . . and the Raven said, %!~#&(&#!$! |
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Andrew Scott Member Elite
since 1999-06-24
Posts 2558Redlands,CA,USA |
Thanks for the tour. Never been to New Orleans. Closest I've come is the I-10 passing through to Florida at speeds better left unsaid. Perhaps some day I'll make it your way for a serious stay and take in the sights. Peace. "We'll chase them like rats across the tundra." |
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JerryPat Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991Louisiana/America |
Hi Andrew. I'm well aware of the I-10 speedway. Been there. done that. I came to this part of the country on my senior trip, fell in love with it, and always found myself returning. finally I just stayed. Thanks for being here. . . . and the Raven said, %!~#&(&#!$! |
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Amaryllis Senior Member
since 2010-05-20
Posts 1306Mi now |
That is a fascinating tour, Jerry... interesting, I was just studying a photo portraying Marie Laveau`s crypt, and the red crosses people make on the walls for protection... then I find your poem... strange synchronicity!  Amaryllis |
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JerryPat Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991Louisiana/America |
Oooh! That is strange, Amaryllis. I maintain Marie is up to something. I gonna go get me some gris-gris. . . . and the Raven said, %!~#&(&#!$! |
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Eusta B. Mae Senior Member
since 2010-05-03
Posts 903 |
Jerry- this is great. you just amaze me with all the different ways and means you put your poetry together. You are like a box of chocolates...never know what your're going to get (you just know its going to be good!) |
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Earl Brinkman Senior Member
since 2010-03-03
Posts 1183Osaka, Japan |
An interesting tour. Enjoyable. |
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JerryPat Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991Louisiana/America |
You are so sweet, ebm, and I owe you a hug.  . . . and the Raven said, %!~#&(&#!$! |
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JerryPat Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991Louisiana/America |
Thank you Earl. Top of the morning to ya. . . . and the Raven said, %!~#&(&#!$! |
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Dark Stranger Member Patricius
since 2001-03-19
Posts 13631West Coast |
JP..very cool nudge into creole/cajohn ancestral etouffee...some of my fav folks, food and music and I hope their ways can outlive any upgrade efforts. |
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JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
Fine writing...James |
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JerryPat Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991Louisiana/America |
Yep, I hope they can survive the upgrade also, DS. II have a strong feeling they will. Thanks James, for stopping by and reading my stuff. . . . and the Raven said, %!~#&(&#!$! |
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passing shadows Member Empyrean
since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577displaced |
went to a coffee shop on Canal St once, or maybe it was Royal...or maybe Royal coffee shop on Canal...anyway, it was the best cup of double chocolate mocha I ever had in my life! Wish I could have stayed longer but I just drove a hitchhiker there...ah reckless youth! |
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JerryPat Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991Louisiana/America |
Hey! That hitchhiker was me. Haha! Thanks passing for the ride and the comment. . . . and the Raven said, %!~#&(&#!$! |
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passing shadows Member Empyrean
since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577displaced |
well Jerry, thanks for the coffee! Maybe we can do it again sometime. |
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jwesley Member Rara Avis
since 2000-04-30
Posts 7563Spring, Texas |
Well done, my friend...only one or two I haven't visited, played in, or loved in... St. Louis #3 and Metairie being the most often. Cemetaries were big on our teenaged agenda. They were also the prime place to get flowers for girlfriends and, occasionally, their mothers (especially potted plants)! Many an afternoon after school was spent necking in one or the other. And we figured it had to be okay since nobody or anything reached out and grabbed us. Sometimes though, the flowers did seem to wilt awfully fast after crossing the cematery's boundry. We wondered about that... Enjoyed, jwesley |
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JerryPat Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991Louisiana/America |
Oh boy, do I ever know what you are saying, jwesley. I think those spirits welcomed that kind of living the life rather than the sad faces which usually come there. I'm almost positive they do. . . . and the Raven said, %!~#&(&#!$! |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
Kindred spirits, you and I... I an have occasional dream of acquiring a duck and giving the old quarter a good haunting. (The roller skates are out of the question. Um. So is the wedding dress.) I've never worn one and have no aspirations for doing so now. ah...but Johnny Walker on the rocks and my favored end bar stool at Johnny White's...sweaty nights at Bennie's Blues Bar dancing to Paula and the Pontiacs, oysters on the half shell at ACME, and the ghost of Hunter Thompson at Ye Olde College Inn, and just try to get to the Circle Bar during Bacchus.  Yer making me wanna go out yanno.  |
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JerryPat Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991Louisiana/America |
You do know whereof you speak, Serenity, and "oysters on the half shell at ACME," is my thing. I put The Acme in my very first novel, "My Mother's Revenge." Hated Felix's across the street, although that was where I had my very first stuffed artichoke. Lived with a stripper for a while above Galatoire's. She worked at The Old French Opera House, long gone now. Ah. Young and crazy and young. Gotta love it. . . . and the Raven said, %!~#&(&#!$! |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
You keep this up and I may have to get one of those job thingies just so I can afford to buy you a drink! *laughing* |
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JerryPat Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991Louisiana/America |
Whots a job thingie? Oh, I get it. Drink. Money. Job. Ah. Jim Beam on the rocks with a splash of bitters, please. . . . and the Raven said, %!~#&(&#!$! |
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passing shadows Member Empyrean
since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577displaced |
okay, if ya'll are talkin' about drinks and good company, I'm on my way down! And I got the first and second and maybe even third rounds. Christmas presents can just wait! LOL |
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JerryPat Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991Louisiana/America |
Laissez les bons temps roule . . . and the Raven said, %!~#&(&#!$! |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
If Dixie and I tag-team you, you're gonna need more help than Jim Beam... *grins* Now. We'll try to behave. er...a little. |
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JerryPat Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991Louisiana/America |
Hahaha!! I've been tag teamed before and held up okay. Course that was . . . er . . . a few years ago. Thanks for bringing the memories up. Haha!! . . . and the Raven said, %!~#&(&#!$! |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
and he likes to play with matches, too. It's nearly irresistible... *chuckles and hugs* |
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JerryPat Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991Louisiana/America |
Oops! Have I stepped into the deep end of the pool here.? . . . and the Raven said, %!~#&(&#!$! |
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Mysteria 
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
Karen has sent me stuff on New Orleans and I feel a love for that place and still haven't even been there. The Duck Lady is one of my favorite characters, and you know what? I think she was pretty darn sane, now that I see a lot of other things going on around me. Loved this tour, and plan to do it real time one day. |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
Nodding. It doesn't matter if they tear the whole place down--moss will grow on new brick and magick will happen with the first Jazz Funeral. As long as there's a river, lovie, we'll be here.  <--to all of you. |
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Alison
since 2008-01-27
Posts 9318Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy! |
So good. I read it this morning and came back tonight to read again. Historical and so fun to read out loud. Alison |
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JerryPat Senior Member
since 2010-10-30
Posts 1991Louisiana/America |
Oh, I don't think the duck lady was crazy, Mysteria. A little slow, but not insane. I had some interesting conversations (two minutes at the most) with her. Serenity, you have the right idea and yes, I believe you are correct. Thank you, Alison, for the double read. . . . and the Raven said, %!~#&(&#!$! |
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