Have you ever eaten crawfish? They are seasonal crustaceans here in South Louisiana. We measure the goodness of spring by the crawfish season. I think we’re expecting a good season this year because of all the rain. And it looks, by the catch above, that the hard freeze in January didn’t get deep down into the mud of the crawfish ponds.
On Saturday we attended our first crawfish boil. Our friend Patti has a home in Arnaudville with two ponds that produce crawfish. She told us the catch for this boil was from her neighbor’s pond. Notice all the (healthy) vegetables cooked along with the crawfish, potatoes, corn, Brussel sprout, and garlic. We spent the afternoon drinking beer, eating mud bugs and king cake, and watching all the dogs (and young boys) play in the pond.
For my poetry book for children, Bayou Song, I wrote a poem about the geometry (eating) of crawfish. The book also includes poem and drawing prompts for kids. You can do them, too.
The Geometry of Crawfish
Grab a long line antenna
Avoid looking into round peppercorn peepers
Hold the cylinder cavity containing fat
Watch out for triangular tweezer pincers
Detach the arced accordion tail
Remove curvy meaty muscle
Dip in a puddle-circle of spicy ketchup
Eat
Margaret Simon, Bayou Song: Creative Explorations of the South Louisiana Landscape
Write it: Make a list of geometry words, words about shapes. Choose an animal to describe using shapes. What shape is a snake? a bird’s beak? What about a cat’s nose?
If you would like to see some of my students’ slices, go to Fanschool: GT Allstars.
Reflections on the Teche 
What a great spring ritual! Something I have never done. The veggies look great but I might pass on the crawfish. Looks like a great spring afternoon!
Yum! Crawdads never looked so good…or so PLENTY! Once you get past deconstructing your food with your hands, it’s all yum all the time!
The party sounds like a blast, even though I’d likely pass on the crawfish. Your geometry poem is the perfect accompaniment. Clever and fun!
They’re just tiny lobsters! Hee Hee.
Oh, Margaret, what a great post. I learned some new things. “Avoid looking into round peppercorn peepers” is surely good advice. Clever prompt with the geometry vocabulary.
I love a crawfish boil! My husband is from Louisiana and this post is a love letter to the festive feasts. Love the imagery in your Geometry of Crawfish poem — such fabulous, specific word choice!
Margaret, there is nothing quite as intriguing to me as the culture of food. We have Lowcountry Boil (like yours, only with shrimp and sausage) here on the Georgia and SC coasts, and of course where I am in middle Georgia it’s all about fried catfish and barbecue. That photo makes me smile to see all the crawfish ready to eat, and of course your poem to give the way to eat them is just icing on the cake…..or should I say antennae on the crawfish?
I am glad you led this the photo. Mostly because I can still see the snowy photos you posted from the surprise snow event. So glad that Spring is coming and these animals survived to be enjoyed. I’ve never eaten a crawfish boil. But if ever offered, I will think of you and dig in. Sounds like the perfect afternoon – friends, good food and a cold beer!
I love the geometry prompt Margaret! And the poem…and the idea that spring is springing even though we’ve barely cracked into March. Is mud bugs another name for crawfish?
Kim
Yes. They dig into the mud and make chimneys out of it.
You know, I’ve never eaten crawfish. This seems like some sort of oversight on my part – and another good reason to come visit! Also, I still use your book for teaching! It’ll come out once the snow melts here & I can get my 9th graders outside to write & notice things. 🙂
Thanks so much. It’s good to know it’s still inspiring young writers.
I love your photo and hearing about your fun day! I have never had an opportunity to try a crawfish, but I would give it a try because I love crab and lobster. What a great poem with all the alliteration, imagery, and specific words. I especially like triangular tweezer pinchers, arced accordion, and puddle-circle.