It was a charming way to see the sights,
feel the breeze, see the live oak trees
On a trolley car in New Orleans
it was a Saturday late in the month of May
Though my project was progressing well
Two weeks from home made it a private hell
Ancient oaks that shaded Jean Lafitte
A Baratarian Park that bears his name
Eight hours a day at heights in blinding heat
My career path will never lead to fame
A young lady boarded at Audubon Park
She crossed the car to sit by me
Her eyes danced blue, her hair curled long and dark,
She sparkled like sunlight on the sea
She'd come from Charlotte for a law degree
I'd studied trees in the mountains at Boone
They needed lawyers internationally
Her interview for Rome was coming soon
And she told me of her hopes and dreams
Listened to the tales of what I'd seen
She'd been a stand out wearing Tulane Green
Near the top of the list signed by the Dean
Wrought iron gardens filled the air with a sweet bouquet
Happy people dined in sidewalk cafes
Smell the crawfish and the gumbo filet
Wash down po-boys with cafe au lait
Blow powdered sugar clouds from sweet begneits
And as she stepped down, she looked back at me
As if she didn't want to leave
I placed a fingertip to my lip and
Wiggled it in a small farewell
The driver spoke, an apology, and she was on her way
Released from that temporary spell
And wherever you are I hope your life is going well
For there's now way that I can tell,
No way I'll ever know
For as you went on your way, I realized that come what may
Though we became fast friends that day
I never even asked you for
Your name
Author notes
this is my story, love it, hate it, 'cause I don't give a damn.
(under duress)
A memory of happier times... Is any of this left?
Tulane attracted law students interested in international law because of Louisiana's Napoleonic Law, even from North Carolina. Appalachia State University is in the mountains at Boone, North Carolina.
Written January 7th, 2006
A contest entry
- Friendship contest # 2 by brightsmylesxx.
650 points, ended May 13, 10 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Cityscape - New Orleans by Highwaytraveller.
375 points, ended September 27, 11 entries
• next poem in this contest, • Add to finalists list, or remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 15 of 15
-
This really took me there, in an intimate moment that bridges time and space. Sometimes we recognise the angels we meet...
-
Excellent! Really excellent! Very evocative, and a simple narrative about an encounter, that held me until the end.
(I have a friend who works at Tulane, and another who studies at UNO. I have never been to the Big Easy, but these friends - and you - make me feel like I have)
-
This is a great poem, very poetic, and it shows that friends don't have to be the kind of person you know all your life. Thanks for your entry and good luck~
~
-
Excellent story, well told, sometimes we can have very deep conversations, with complete strangers and my guess is, the girl will remember the discussion for a long time to come. Good stuff!
-
wow...this is wonderful...definitly not some dumb azz crap...
Though my project was progressing well
Two weeks from home made it a private hell
My career path will never lead to fame
Released from that temporary spell
my favortie bits and pieces i may say
best of luck in my contest!! feel free to enter more, but please try to enter a new one. and also if you could read the rules or iwill have to dq you and iwould saddly do that one. -
This is a lovely story in a poem, and very well told. I enjoyed the read. Thanks for entering and following the rules.
-
this is a really good write, it flowed nicely and i liked how you added french Cafe au lait, over all it was really cute, and sad at the end. the last stanza summed it all up. nice write, good luck to you *Jordan*
-
I like this write. It really tells a story in a poetic way. great job. thanks for entering and good luck!
~*~Austyn~*~ -
glad to read this again, so sweet and takes me right back to my home...my son graduated from stetson, law school in florida, he chose not to do the type law taught, for him it was a wise choice...back to yuor wonderful write, i find it compelling, for i know every scene you show here, but others who had never been to new orleans, or saw only the carnival scene may be at a big disadvantage to appreciate this outstanding write...but still, there is much to enjoy in these words, the tale of the girl on the trolley could have happened in many places, and the longing is universal...a truely outstanding poem you have penned, one of my favorites i have ever read on this site and this time i will book mark it
be well poet
-
Stopped at this poem because of your reference to trees again. Found it interesting (if true) because you didn't pursue anything other than the moment. 'Bid you farewell and wish you well'. Well done.
Edited on Apr 11, 6:23 p.m. because ''. -
ah now this one does make me go back in time, i worked and played in that garden district most of my young adult life....off of st charles there is lots of tales to tell. thank you for pointing me in this direction, a worthy write of the magic that may never be recaptured. i made a king cake yesterday, have a chunk with some chickery and lay low till the sun go down boo.
-
I like this one, Ben~jammin...Did I ever tell ya I lived in Louisiana for 18 months & that my Best Friend is from there??? She was born in Metarie...We lived in Abbeville, about 30 miles from Lafayette, 60 miles from New Orleans...I adore cafe au lait & beignets...from Cafe du Monde...Laissez le bon temps roulez, cher...
Ahhh, the food...crawfish etoufee, gumbo, jambalaya...only problem was, she was allergic to seafood, poor chile... 
Very elaborate descriptive techniques, my Friend...& I'm quite sure she still thinks about you, too...
Wanda
Edited on Jan 22, 6:59 p.m. because ''. -
despite the fact its not what the contest required, its still a lovely little story. excellent use of imagery, i felt as if i were walking the streets of new olreans as i read it. good work.
-
nice job.. im not from new orleans. but spent most of my time there... nice job.. i was more interested in poems about katrina... not memories of happier times.. but it was a good poem nontheless..... i should have been more specific.. my fault... i will applaud your poem though...
-
Why happier times? Loved 'wrought iron gardens filled the air with a sweet bouquet' and the fingertip to the lip thing. x x chills (times like this, they pass, and tough love endures) Sure to be some magic numbers in this somewhere.....
Adding your comment:
1 - 15 of 15
