I’ve been following Laura Shovan’s #WaterPoemProject. Margarita Engle, one of my favorite poets for children, prompted us to write an ode to a body of water. I write over and over about my bayou. Ha! I even call it my bayou. Living near water brings me joy and solace.
This ode comes directly from our experience of canoeing on the evening of Good Friday, without the annoying gnats.
Ode to the Bayou
Even as a water snake winds its way
around concrete rick-rack, haphazardly placed
for a bulkhead, I will wander
through your neighborhood of cypress trees
dodging knees, paddling a path of no destination.
Perhaps we’ll head toward the bridge,
stop to gather blackberries or chat
with neighbors about wood duck eggs
and such.
Even as you stretch out like a snake
for miles ahead, I will wander,
wishing for longer days,
photograph your evening haze,
and end my voyage with
this praise.
© Margaret Simon, April 11, 2020
Reflections on the Teche 
All this time of reading your words for the bayou makes me know it a little bit. This is another beautiful poem for it on this special day, Margaret. I love those ending rhymes! Happy Easter!
Your love for your bayou shines through this poem. I feel the same way about water and have spent many days floating down rivers and now overlooking or fishing in or floating on our pond. It’s much smaller than the bayou but still teems with life.
I love it when you share moments on “your” bayou. Your photo highlights the praise you have given it.
Your poetry makes me long to see the bayou and I will some day. You use interesting language like “bulkhead” Rick-rack” and “wood duck” that surprise. I enjoyed your poem!
Dang, that’s a beautiful bayou. It brings ME joy and solace that you and Kat can live so close to waterways! I like your “even as” lines.
Longing evoked by words and pictures. I will wander … cypresses and praise. Sigh. Now I must try a water poem.
Margaret, your photograph allows me to dip into the bayou waters while I wander the teche with you through your poem. Beautiful. I would love to share one of your bayou poems and photos at my Nature Nuirtures 2020 Gallery.
Thanks, Carol. You may share.