Poetic License

Every time you say “I love you”... It makes me want to frickin’ hurl... I’m not the kind of woman that likes... To be treated like some special pearl... I cringe when you rub my back... I loath when you wash my hair... I despise when you write these fucking poems... And when you tell me you like what I wear... Why do you always have to cook dinner... Why do you always have to ask how I feel... Why can’t you ever just leave me be... With the issues I alone have to deal... Can’t you see that I’m having trouble... When someone tells me that they care... I just didn’t grown up in a family... Where feelings were something to share... So take all your love and support... Go offer it to someone who’s weak... I would rather go be with a hookup... Than be stuck with a sensitive freak... ©  2020 Jeffrey Pipes Guice Image: Banksy, Love Sick

Mother... Mother Nature... So fertile... so giving... so loving... So young... so lush... so inviting... Changing at every moment... So thirsty and wet one second... So parched and dry the next... Where does the time go...  And why so quickly... Her juices are the source of life... We need to take care of and respect her... ©  2021 Jeffrey Pipes Guice

Why It Is Important To Preserve Historical Cemeteries, Tombs and Burial Grounds... By Jeffrey Pipes Guice With all the beautiful architecture and historical cemeteries scattered strategically across New Orleans, it can be easy to forget why is so vitally important that we regularly maintain and preserve our family’s cemeteries, tombs and burial grounds.  Even still, these cemeteries are important to everyday New Orleans life and culture, and what's more, they're present in nearly every community. Why Is It Important To Preserve Your Family’s Tomb?  In search of the answers, and to learn about the history of tomb preservation, we spent an afternoon with local tomb preservation expert Michelle Stanard Duhon, owner of Bayou Preservation, one of the leading authorities on New Orleans cemeteries and family tomb preservation. Jeffrey Pipes Guice: “Welcome, Michelle, and thank you for taking some time out of your busy day to discuss the history of tomb preservation and why it’s so im...

Is it a sign from Satan When the world burns from within... Is it a call for caution That the end will soon begin... Is it a sign from Above That the end is near... Is it a time for all To begin living in fear... Is it a sign that we As a society we should heed... Let’s find some common ground More love is what we need... © 2020 Jeffrey Pipes Guice

The one night stand... a casual hookup... no connection... no commitment... he satisfies himself and then runs off... feeling regretful after casual sex... feelings of worthlessness... yet another emotional breakdown... I can’t stop crying... girl covering her face with hands... sitting in her bedroom in lingerie... it’s like cutting myself on the inside... over and over again... why do I continue to harm myself... is there someone out there for me... are we supposed to be with only one partner forever... am I my own worst enemy... is it really my mother’s fault... emotionally bankrupt... how do I stop the cycle... how can I love myself... rinse and repeat... the one night stand... a casual hookup... no connection... no commitment... he satisfies himself and then runs off... feeling regretful after casual sex... feelings of worthlessness... ©  2021 Jeffrey Pipes Guice

I remember back in 2007 when my younger sister Madeleine was dying from cancer. I got down on my knees and I prayed as hard as I’ve ever prayed before to God. I asked God to please spare my sister. I asked Him to not let her die of this dreadful disease that was ravishing her body. I remember praying and crying as hard as I ever had in my entire life. I remember being on the floor of my bathroom in almost a fetal position. I cried uncontrollably for what seemed like hours. I cried and I prayed. It was one of the most vulnerable times that I ever experienced. I begged God for His mercy. While I was praying, I came up with the idea of making a deal with God. The deal was that I would write the largest check I had ever written as a donation to the American Cancer Society if He would only let her live. I thought to myself that if I made this large monetary offering to a charitable organization that was doing so much good for so many suffering people, that I might receive a special blessing...

Why do we allow so many others To control our precious lives... Why do we let our manipulative parents  Slice us apart with unforgiving knives... We are both grown damn adults Who just happened to fall in love... We allowed our beautiful friendship To become a precious gift from Above... We didn’t allow our historical differences To get in the way of our mutual attraction... We found a place of understanding and respect Which became a gift of tremendous satisfaction... Sometimes when our very own families Try to manipulate our relationships and emotions... They try desperately to control our feelings And fill our minds with conflicting notions... But then comes the unfortunate day When the familial pressure becomes too much... You say to me “You are my rock” But then you throw me away, as such... But my love for you is still real And I’ll patiently wait here for you... I know it’s only a matter of time Please know my heart is forever true... Once you discover that our true love Wil...

The moon over New Orleans... It lights up her seductive celebration... Nighttime is when she parties... It’s all about the mutual flirtation... The world loves the Crescent City... And all she has to offer... It’s where we all let loose... It’s where you receive her proffer... For it’s easy to fall into her seduction... When the libations begin to flow... And the ladies start their initiation... Her money maker begins to glow... She’ll capture you before you know it... It’s easy to become her prey... She’ll take you for everything you’re worth... Her game you might not want to play... You can take it or you can leave it... You either participate or become a voyeur... But if you find yourself in trouble... You might need to hire a good lawyer... So beware while your in The Big Easy... Keep your eyes open day and night... Because it’s the moon over New Orleans... That will have you praying for the morning light... ©  2020 Jeffrey Pipes Guice

Savory Simon Hubig was born in Spain... On the way to his new country He boarded a plane... The year was 1922 And a good year it was... Hubig’s Pie was born And the world was abuzz... The New Orleans bakery Was in the Marigny, on Dauphine... The sweetest little bakery New Orleans had ever seen... It pumped out 30,000 pies Each day and night... Savory Simon worked hard To give New Orleans their daily delight... The delicious sugary crust Enveloped fruits from Heaven... So many flavors to chose... More than ten, or maybe eleven... “Rich as gold, sweeter than honey” On a Hubig’s Pie is where I’ll spend my money... A fire destroyed the building In 2012... Thoughts of rebuilding anew The family would soon delve... While the city approved the plans To rebuild our favorite bakery... The family couldn’t agree on a plan Return dates became fakery... And then one day An announcement as made... A new plan was hatched The winning hand finally played... Woot Woot! And Yahoo! Who Dats began to celeb...

“Throw me something Mister!” She hollered from the heavens up above... Some pretty beads... As she quietly pleads... Or maybe a turtle dove... We lost her way too early... She was a gift from God... A beautiful child... Both sweet and mild... She never once met the rod... Her favorite time of the year... Was the season called Mardi Gras... The kings arrived on boats... To ride their majestic floats... She watched them in total awe... The marching bands played her music... As she listened with girlish delight... She loved the throws... As everyone knows... As the flambeau torches shone bright...... But the angel of death came sudden... On a cold and dreary night... Her life cut short... A tragedy of sort... Our world was feeling contrite... She’ll always be our Mardi Gras angel... From the heavens way up high... She’ll keep children warm... So they’ll feel no harm... From her Mardi Gras perch up in the sky... ©  2021 Jeffrey Pipes Guice

Ridin’ round New Orleans on my Vespa... With my baby holdin’ on real tight... Life should be nothin’ if not a movable feast... Lastin’ all day and into da night... Headin’ down St Charles to da Quarters... Searchin’ for the freshest beignets... Wavin’ to da tourists on da streetcar... It’s gonna be one of dose days... Sippin’ Café au lait with da Creoles... Listenin’ to brass bands playin’ jazz... Inspired by da likes of Louis Armstrong... Playin’ music with everything dey has... Shoppin’ for antiques on Royal... Headin’ to Galatoire’s for some trout almondine... Toppin’ it all off at da Napoleon House... My baby’s happy to be makin’ da scene... Lookin’ at all da beautiful mansions... Travelin’ up Esplanade in da cool shade... Degas on da left, JazzFest on da right... Just hold on my baby, don’t be afraid... Takin’ in da nature at City Park... Mommas and daddies playin’ wit da kids... If dese century old oak trees could be talking’ Mo stories den just beer and short ribs... Drivin’ alo...