Poetry Friday round up is hosted by Buffy today.
Elderberry growing in the healer’s garden.
Last weekend I attended a presentation at Vermilionville, a historic Cajun/Creole Village. The speaker was a Creole traiteur or healer, Rebecca Henry. I created this poem from my notes.
Advice from a healer:
Always think positive.
Eat an odd number of pumpkin seeds, 3, 5, 7 for back ache.
Don’t search for roots if you don’t know them.We had our own names for stuff.
We were never poor.
We had a momma, a daddy, our brothers, our sisters.
We had everything we needed.Every leaf, every plant, every flower is for food.
For croup, wear the flannel collar soaked in goose grease until Easter.
Use mud from the mud dauber nest for diaper rash.
Those mud daubers know the best dirt.We never measure.
Treat the whole person.
Clean out in August.
Grease your machine real good.Say why not me instead of why me.
If you believe, you will be healed.Lizard’s Tail: “You put some lizard’s tail to soak in water, and you make the little baby drink it.”
Reflections on the Teche 