Courtney - Nighttime in New Orleans

Wake up, brush teeth, get ready
Stumble into my drawer to find that
Familiar purple, green, and gold
Striped Perlis Polo
That i wear every year

Slip on my jeans, still stained
From the mud of last nights parade,
Too tired to notice that I have worn
Them once already

I look at my clock, it is 5
In the afternoon
How could I have slept this late?
I forget, it is Mardi Gras

Running down the driveway
To hop in my car, stressed
Because Bacchus starts in
Exactly 30 minutes

It is 5:55, I finally arrive
At the apartment
With five minutes to spare
Not a soul in sight,
I look out the window
To see everyone standing on the
Neutral ground,
Excitement and anticipation
Fill the air as the tip
Of the first float rounds
The corner

I run down the steps, hoping not to fall
I sprint across the street
Greeting everyone with open arms and a warm smile
They turn around to see me tired and out of breath
I know I am in New Orleans

Nighttime, the parade is over, people stumbling
People screaming, and people celebrating
This means nothing to New Orleanians
Nighttime is our favorite
When everyone comes out to
Trashy streets, filled with broken cups and beads
The party has just begun
Police on every corner
Even they are celebrating Mardi Gras
Familiar faces surround you
As you walk through the crowd
Seeing someone new
Every corner you turn

Eventually streets start to clear
But the celebration is not over
It starts again tomorrow
Mardi Gras, Nighttime
Both unique to New Orleans


Courtney, age 16