after 30 days flat-time house of d.
hungry, near broke, roamin’ free.
tryin’ in vain outpace pre-dawn morning.
past french quarter, st. thomas, dripping
gray shadows, farmers market. covered
dark men, beddindown, atop crates: collard
greens, kale, sacks rice, truck beds.
breathing old cooking fires, gumbo roux,
thick crusted pots, dutch ovens; jambalaya,
garlic, okra. comecomecomealong hangin’ onto
morning’s mist: shrimp étouffée, jalapeños,
smoked sausages, tasso, andouille, alligator,
boudin. fragrances: lavender, ginseng, jasmine,
iris. walking dripping wet past: caged cocks, hens,
rabbits: bundles mint, oregano, parsley, dill.
jars dried cayenne, thyme, mint, baskets tomatoes,
onions, shallots, sweet corn ears, bell peppers.
sits near toothless overall clad man singing:
“i had the best of woman yesterday.”
“no white man in louisiana stood above me,
if i could holler like a mountain jack,
i’d climb upon the highest mountain
and call that woman back.”
“oh, my woman she loved me
bailed me out of jail then said,
i have nothing left to give you
jack.”
“i sing what i need to get out.”
“my baby she so far away from me.”
“way down here in new orleans.”
“and she won’t stop living because of me.”
dripping gray shadows
