I was in New Orleans

by Pat Darnell

I was in New Orleans
Drinking hurricanes

Most natural thing to do
"You are disturbing
Our performers, Sir..."
"if it continues,
You’ll have to leave"
A waiter said to me

 Poison brings me
Closer to Jesus

"Sir, you will have to leave
If you continue to wave
And weave

But—where am I?
I was in New Orleans
Living a no regrets life --
Thief comes anyway
Only to kill, steal and destroy
And takes my valuables away

 "..Sir, you are still there
 but I’m sorry you must stop
or you will have to leave

Do I have to cross
That old rickety bridge
..Old rusted metal
Crickety bridge to
Get out of here?

 "I don’t know Sir;

…if you keep falling
Out of your chair
You must depart

I drank three hurricanes
Before I angled in here
To sit through this Ike
Allison and Katrin’ despair

Oh, or do you mean the singer
When he broke a string
Did I do that?
Did I do that, you see
Because I’m here

 "I cannot, Sir,Give any reprieve
 Nor answer your Lust for poison...
 Sir, Now, consider the door

I’ve been hearing that
A lot lately –Yep --
That I have to leave
You know I have
Heard all this before

I don’t remember
How ‘xactly it ends
Spirit keeps me alive
While solvents burn
My insides dry
Like a gourd

Coursing through me
Grizzle and bones
Till I have to go
And find my way home

I want first bite
Of every night
Not just a slice
After everyone else

 "Okay, are you going
To go now, Sir...
 Here is the door

Can I not just sit here
One moment more
For men and for God

I fought
to hold the weight
I climbed and tore
At walls, I bore
Into dams
I held resentment in
in my hands
held jealous
To my path…

To my path
So that I am here
A friend to this place
Tho' poisoned patron
A real hard Hurri-case

 "Of your stay here I have foreknowledge No --
 though your condition I see in triplicate
 Less illusion More legitimate
 Truthfully -- Face your poison you ignoble man
 Zenobly, leave boldly,
 Day will bring all to soon memories back again."