Poetic License

She’s always there with an opinion… Often willing to share free advice… She wants us all to find a way to be happy… And to one another she wants us to be nice…  She has always been an wonderful mother… And she continues to be one to this day… But if we do something to get on her bad side… We should do our best to stay out of her way… She refuses to put up with laziness… She expects us to do things when we are told… Like make our beds when we get up in the morning… And to respect things even when they get old… Don’t ever contradict her… And never ever bring her strife… It’s best to stay on her good side… Or she’ll simply block you from her life… As a parent, she is always supportive… As a grandmother, she always shares her love… We couldn’t ask for a more perfect Granne… She’s always there and quick to give a hug… So I hope I can speak for the others… When I say thank you for being our Granne… And for giving us such a strong foundation… On which to build our future plan… ©  202...

I’m not a horse… I am a mule… I’m not a donkey… You silly fool… I’ll let you in on a secret… My dad is a donkey and my momma’s a horse… But I love dem both just da same… And dey love me back, of course… I live and work in da French Quarters… And pull tourists when the weather is good… I get plenty of breaks between da fares… My owner loves me, as he should… I get my strength from my jackass dad… And my good looks from my sweet momma… I like to watch the tourists get really drunk… But I stay away from all dere crazy drama… My barn is large and very clean… My stall is both spacious and airy… I never work more den seven hours each day… My favorite snowball flavor is black cherry… I work no more den four days… And den I take a day off for rest… I don’t mind da heat or humidity… And working in da Quarters is da best… So, whenever you visit New Orleans… And you want to be takin for a ride… Come get into my pretty carriage… Get a go cup and come play outside… ©  2021 Jeffrey Pipes Guice P...

He was everybody’s Mr. Okra… He was da man about town… Selling his fresh vegetables… In New Orleans all around… Whether selling Uptown on Carrollton… Or even da Lower 9th Ward… Selling everyone fresh produce… Dat he grew in his backyard… He always wore a smile… On his happy brown face… He was always in a good mood… Selling vegetables by the case… Everywhere he went… His name was well known… He was da king of street vegetables… And his truck was his mighty throne… We all miss our Mr. Okra… As one day his voice went silent… But his memories will always live on… Cuz he was New Orleans’ okra giant… ©  2021 Jeffrey Pipes Guice

I remember my big brother Had the coolest van in town… I was so proud to be his little bro But he never wanted me around… He often went to the movies Especially at the Do Drive In… While he sometimes took a new girl There was one he took again and again… If the windows were sometimes foggy And I couldn’t see inside… I knew to wait at the van’s rear door Until the shakin would subside… Then out would come my brother… He would always light up a smoke… He would tell me to skedaddle… Around his van I should not poke… While I knew my brother was busy… I wasn’t really sure why it was so… But whenever a girl would leave his van… Her face would always be aglow… When I finally turned sixteen… It was the Do Drive In where I would play… That’s when I finally started to realize… Why my big brother would always say… “If my van’s a’rockin’… Don’t come a’knockin’… If the van’s a’shakin’… Then it’s love we’re a’makin…” That was pretty much his motto… As the sticker said on his van… He always left the ...

I try to tell myself everything’s gonna be okay… I try to tell myself my thoughts for her will simply go away… I try to tell myself it’s okay, man, just move on… I try to tell myself find some happiness in my sad song… But I miss her, miss her, miss her… It’s so hard to forget her smile… Yes, I miss her, miss her, miss her… So I’ll just sit here and cry awhile… My friends tell me it’s time to forget and let her go… My friends tell me it should be easy, but they don’t know… My friends tell me she doesn’t care about the things you say or do… My friends tell me she’s simply not the one that’s right for you… But I miss her, miss her, miss her… It’s so hard to forget her smile… Yes, I miss her, miss her, miss her… So I’ll just sit here and cry awhile… I don’t know why she has to act this way… I don’t know why she won’t hear the words I want to say… I don’t know why I work so hard to try and keep it real… I don’t know why she can’t feel the same love I feel… Yes, I miss her, miss her, miss h...

According to the Jesuits, there are six traditional forms of prayer: 1. Devotional/Verbal Prayer 2. Lectio Divina 3. Meditation 4. Prayer of the Heart 5. Active Contemplation 6. Infused Contemplation My favorite form of prayer has always been Infused Contemplation, one of the easiest of all forms of prayers, but one that most people think is out of their league. We usually associate this form of prayer with mystics, monks, cloistered nuns and great saints. The truth is, Infused Contemplation is meant for all of us. Some of us already do it, although not realizing it. It can sometimes be described as wordless experiences such as looking at a starry sky, or a sleeping child’s face. Often it happens when you’re driving a long stretch alone. In these experiences, you are fully “captivated” by something. You don’t try to analyze it, or think it through. You simply take it in. During my recent weekend at Manresa House of Retreats, I spent the majority of my free time ...

You came quietly along… One sunny day in June… You were a beautiful child… With a bit of silver spoon… You always shared a smile… With everyone in your sight… You were always the peacemaker… When your siblings would fight… Your attitude was perfect… And you had really great hair… You had a side eye for the ladies… But you would never openly stare… You were a lover of planes… And history was your passion… You loved the New Orleans Saints… A Brees jersey was your fashion… You always excelled in school… Since born with a smart head… While you kept your room tidy… You would still never make your bed… But when it came to paying attention… To all the things that truly count… You were always a good friend… No matter the favor or amount… My world has always be wonderful… Because Pipes is in my life… It will always be Pipes and me… There for each other in times of strife… We’re the Jeffrey Pipes Guice Team… We’ll always fit like a hand and glove… Happy Birthday to you, Pipes… Thanks for filling...

Dear Lord... Take away my anxiety... Take away my struggles... Take away my codependency... Take away my toxic relationships... Take away the pain that I caused myself... Breath in deeply... hold it... let it out slowly... Help me to remove the anxiety that I placed on myself through my own thoughts... Help me to understand that I’m in complete control of my own side of the street... Help me to appreciate that the many blessings in my life far outweigh the negatives that I allow myself to create... Breath in deeply... hold it... let it out slowly... Thank You for being there even when I let go of Your hand... Thank You for giving me the strength to pull myself out of my own pity party... Thank You for allowing me to pick and choose healthy people to be in my life... Thank You for allowing me to see the beauty in all places... Thank You for all the wonderful things You have placed before me... Thank You for the team of truly caring people that You’ve put around me... Thank You for the l...

Lies, lies, she loves telling lies... When she sees something black... She swears that it’s white... When it’s the middle of the day... She swears that it’s night... Lies, lies, she loves telling lies... When the sky is dark grey... She says it bright blue... She blurts out “I loves you” But everyone knows it’s not true... She says she wants a real lover... But she doesn’t want a boyfriend... She says she wants to feel affection... But intimacy she can’t comprehend... She says she likes the bottom... But she always gets on top... She says she wants to go faster... But then all of a sudden she’ll stop... She won’t even tell the truth... When she grows tired of a lover... Instead of letting him off easy... She merely trades him in for another... ©  2021 Jeffrey Pipes Guice