KAREN HESSLER

There is healing power in the beauty of nature.

Tag: louisiana heritage

Louisiana Leaves: A Louisiana Heritage Poem

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On October 18, 2022

In Poems

The brown leaves of my Louisiana heritage

This is a poem about the brown leaves and blue skies of autumn in Acadiana, my Louisiana heritage – a poem about leaving and coming back home. May you always carry home in your heart!




LOUISIANA LEAVES


one day I will leave
these bayous and cypress trees
oaks and magnolias
and pastures of green
bearded moss hanging
swaying in the breeze
horses and cows grazing
will they notice when I leave?

one day I'll drive northward
to see colorful leaves
bursting in autumn
from unfamiliar trees
such beauty I've never
had the pleasure to hold
such glory is priceless
or so I am told

when I eat the fruit
of that golden root
when I've had my fill
of the northern thrill
I'll turn back toward home
where I know I belong

for there is nothing quite like
those blue southern skies
the familiar warm welcome
and a feast for the eyes
my people are waiting
they're calling my name

the north holds much beauty
but it's just not the same
wherever I go
however I roam
deep within me I know
there is no place like home
The blue skies of my Louisiana heritage

Signs of Spring: A Louisiana Heritage Poem

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On April 18, 2022

In Poems, Posts

Do you look for signs of spring? In south Louisiana, the pecan tree is always the last tree to sprout buds. We like to take that as a sure sign that winter has ended, no more freezing temps, it is now safe to plant spring vegetables. Legend has it, when the pecan leaves come out, winter is finally over. But sometimes winter doesn’t give up without a fight – so we hold our breath and root for the pecan tree, rejoicing at the first sign of green, celebrating the strength of spring.

Signs of Spring




The pecan leaves have sprouted,
always the last to emerge.

Legend foretells this is the sign of
spring, the promise that winter is over.

That was before climate change:
all bets are off now.

This morning a powerful north wind
blew, chilling the air

threatening to tear off the tender
tufts of green

shaking the limbs of the steadfast
pecan tree

yet the baby leaves held,
clutching momma's fingers

and momma wouldn't let go;
the green remained

evidence of the strength of spring
in the face of power

proof that winter must finally
blow away

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