Louisiana Legislature

The legislative session is being unleashed upon us today and it is easy to see why people are anti-government — what the Pelican State is going to do, apparently, is pass bills to better soak the public. Naturally, this will be done “without taxes.” From the LFT: The governor’s supporters say they want to pass … More Louisiana Legislature

Angola Road

It seems I am bypassing Lent entirely, as I have not stopped playing Carnival songs. Today, though, I visited the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, where I am accompanying a prisoner on death row for as long as it takes. I have been doing this since 1992 and that is twenty years. In prison we … More Angola Road

EH LA-BAS

Chorus E la ba! E la ba! Hey over there! Hey over there! E la ba, chèri! Hey over there, dear lady! Komon sa va? How’s it goin’? 1 Mo chè kouzen, mo chè kouzin, My dear cousin (male), my dear cousin (female), mo lenme la kizin! I love good cooking! Mo manje plen, mo … More EH LA-BAS

On analytical powers

In the brave new world we inhabit I do not allow graduate students to simply make their research presentation toward the end of the term. If I did, I would get the quality of presentation I now call a “first presentation.” Some comments on one were like this: Professor Zero: …although the “negative” poem is … More On analytical powers

Kaiso

Not entirely over Mardi Gras I am in a Calypsonian phase, and I have learned about an apparent subgenre – Kaiso – and this is it. Look at all these performers laughing and singing tongue in cheek lyrics. These rooms and this music have a New Orleans feel and I am right at home. Axé.

Alfonsina Storni

A nice letter to the Republicans. TU ME QUIERES alba, Me quieres de espumas, Me quieres de nácar. Que sea azucena Sobre todas, casta. De perfume tenue. Corola cerrada Ni un rayo de luna Filtrado me haya. Ni una margarita Se diga mi hermana. Tú me quieres nívea, Tú me quieres blanca, Tú me quieres … More Alfonsina Storni