Madison - Message to young NOLA

how hypocritical
for me to say, we’re not that different really
when the worst thing to happen in my neighborhood
is the escape of the labradoodle next door.
how hypocritical
to pretend that we have the same beliefs.
when my school says no gum chewing
and the charter down the street? no handguns.

-stop-

You’re a who dat? and
You were at jazz fest, eating a mango freeze? and
You cried when the saints won the super bowl
but not when Your house was destroyed? and
You can tell the days of the week by whats cooking on the stove
Let’s see, monday? gotta be red beans. gotta be cornbread.

but most of all
You get a little pissed when people ask if You survived.
of course You survived, You’re here, aren’t You?
ain’t You here, just waitin to be found- by somebody, anybody.

You are here. and so am I.
we are beautiful in our brokenness; in our shared love affair
with this ditzy, drunken, magical place
we call home
reppin the 504ever.

- Madison, age 17