New Orleans Echoes, a kasen composed collaboratively by the Poetry and Drama class, Spring 2024 (Sara Alwaqfi, Kyle Besson, Jesse Brown, Jade Dantin, Mateo de la Cruz, Gavin Gaudry, Jocelyn Gros, Emma Guidry, Wendrika Hills, Matthew Mason, Trinity McLaurin, Linda Morris, Tabitha Powell, Taurean Thibo, & Sarah West)


Parades float flooded roads green looming oaks planted draped in golden rays Shimmering emerald ripples hide an ancient basilisk Night of the drunken Wookie, Frenchman adorned with litter and glitter Beads fly, laughs fill the air, sipping Hurricanes on Bourbon Floats flow down countless roads like toads capturing essence of merriment Sugar-white cranes craving beignets strut behind each parade Jazz notes dance to the crowd’s cheer, echoing through the streets’ cobblestone veins Drummers drum as bands brassily sing, beautiful beats ring Waves of echoing sounds rush through the night crashing to sleepers’ dismay Crickets chirp in rhythm to the moon’s glowing pulse, thump- thump Blue night sings around us, dancing along stones in quiet Jackson Square A silent tip of the hat, “Laissez les bons temps rouler.” New Orleans echoes, jazz notes dance in humid air, the bayou whispers Not words, sounds of nature all around, hidden in the marsh Other-worldly birds singing canticles of pain, rain falling,


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drumming Stomping the bass drum pedal till it breaks, a sickly sound Snapping the illusion of endless drinks, a suffering in our midst Te mud-slick catfish thrashes pink blood on the turtle’s beak Whilst alligators with beady eyes stare from afar, prepare to pounce Eyeballing as a predator upon their prey to eat Spanish moss sways in the bayou’s embrace, purring secrets to the murk Shadows incant by candlelight ancient magic circles Chants in the deep swamps, sorrowful and watching you, hum tunes, “Hail Mary” Moon shines through cypress casting green hues on heron, drums thrum In the bayou’s gloom, eyes gleam with malevolent intentions unseen Mystic whispers entwining souls in voodoo’s ancient call Voodoo magic thrives, voodoo dolls are a scary sight, puppet of faith Tourists seek voodoo secrets, find psychics on the corner Typewriter poet, for only twenty-five cents, composes haiku A lonely girl, out for sushi, meets a strange piano A field of tall grass and dandelions shelters scandalous passion A garden planted by men of old, hands brightly glowing Oh! Te beauty and colorfulness of sweet love amidst our bayou During witching hour along the banks of Mississippi Golden hues emerge over hushed waters, observant eyes gleam at dawn New hope rises, the city’s skyline beckons your calling


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