MARIE LAVEAU TALKS ABOUT MAGIC FROM A CONFESSIONAL IN ST. LOUIS CATHEDRAL
Marie Laveau, a colored woman who eventually became
Known as the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans, often used
Her knowledge of Voodoo to manipulate and acquire power.
Enigma
In one quick lick I waved my mojo hand,
Made the Mississippi’s muddy spine
Run crooked as a crow’s foot,
Scared politicians into my pocket
With lizard tongues and buzzard bones,
Convinced the governor to sing my name
Under a sharp crescent moon
White as a gator’s tooth.
Now my magic got the whole Vieux Carré
Waltzing with redfish and rooster heads,
Got Protestants blessing okra and cayenne,
Catholics chasing black cats down Dumaine,
Even got Creoles two-stepping with pythons
Along the banks of Bayou St. John.
They say soon my powers gonna fade,
That there’s a noose aloose in the streets
Looking for a neck to blame.
But I’m just a lowly colored woman
And ain’t nobody gonna blame a worm
For scaring a catfish onto a hook.
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