March 2, 2014
With Mardi Gras just around the corner, I wanted to share this piece I wrote for a Free Write Friday prompt last February. The following poem was at the end of a piece of flash fiction, however, I want to introduce the story with the poem in this reposting.
~ Marie ~
An Opal Moon brought me here
To a tiny store all but bare
Was it all a dream
So vague yet real
With sheer allure and Marie's plea
Beckoning me to come near
Lightening flashed and thunder rolled
A puff of smoke and a sudden whirl
Marie was gone before my eyes
But ... the conjure lived on until ...
IT IS FINISHED!
Copyright © 2013 Annie – Original Poetry
Finding Marie
The dream was vague, but oh so very real. This year, I was lucky and had a invitation to Mardi Gras which would bring me to New Orleans again after many years. The dream told me to look for the Opal and follow it to find what I needed...not what I wanted but what I needed.
The sheer allure of the meaning had me first scared, then excited and finally determined. Also, the name Marie was whispered to me over and over -- sheer allure -- could it really be her -- the great one -- the one who only chooses to come through the veil in times of great need -- surely I was not that 'great need'!
Arriving in New Orleans on Friday before the festivities were to begin was the appointed date and time from the dream. After settling in my room and eating an early light supper, I gathered my things. Treasures from the list of artifacts and materials the dream told me to acquire. Secured in a draw-string pouch as instructed, I set off through the French Quarter to look for the 'Opal'.
The obvious place would be Bourbon Street, but my gut told me Royal Street was where I would find what I needed. This was also why I had chosen to stay at the Bourbon Orleans located on the corner of Royal and Orleans. It's previous life had been a convent amoung other things and said to be haunted, but is a beautiful old world hotel that suited me just fine and the location was perfect for everything Mardi Gras.
Turning right on Royal, I walked several blocks, and there it was...a simple storefront gift shop with a huge 'Opal' Moon in the window. Stepping inside, the clerk caught my eye. Bare chested and beautiful, he pulled aside the beaded curtains at the back and said, "she waits". With a whirl and swish of beads he was gone! There she was, in all her beauty and glory, the famous VOODOO Queen of New Orleans. Marie beckoned me, "come my child, I have what you need". Handing her my bag, she opened it with a sly smile. "You have everything for the gris-gris, even the red string that so many usually forget", she said with her eyes lighting up the room. "You will definitely get what you need from me tonight."
I stood back and watched as the great one began the conjour. What seemed like seconds and had me mesmorized, I found had actually taken hours. As she completed her majick, it was nearing midnight and I woke as if from a deep sleep - trancelike, yet refreshed and excited to continue.
Placing the poppet inside my drawstring bag, Marie sat back, looked me hard in the eye, and began the final instructions.
You are to take the street car into the Garden District. Ride to the end of the line and get off. Turn to your left and you will see a stand of Rowans just inside the cemetary gates. Walk to the center of the stand and dig a deep hole large enough for the bag to fit without bending. Say this incantation (she gave it to me written on parchment) the entire time you are in the Rowans. Take your time, majick needs time and concentration to work properly. Once buried, take a palmful of dirt with you. This will be be sprinkled over running water when you get back home...running water that forms a natural separation. Say the incantation one last time, slowly and with intense emotion. When that is done, turn and walk with your head held high and determination in your step. As you exit the Rowan stand, say one time clearly and with meaning, "IT IS FINISHED"! Return to the street car and never look back. Ride to the Quarter stop and find a place with good music, good food, good drink, good fun, but most of all good men. Enjoy yourself until the dawn breaks and remember, "IT IS FINISHED"!
I did as told, had a wonderful time in a little joint on Canal Street dancing until dawn. Lots of good men, but no one I wanted except for the good times of the moment and a night of fun and dancing.
Walking to the Bourbon Orleans at dawn as the streets were being washed and made ready for a new day, I wanted to see my meeting place from the night before. The little store was there, but no 'Opal' Moon hung in the window, no candles flickered on the shelves. It was completely and totally empty with a hand painted sign on the door --- IT IS FINISHED! And it was.
Copyright © 2013 Annie – Original Flash Fiction
This was originally posted at the following web address: http://www.anniestexasmusings.com/finding-marie.html
~ Marie ~
An Opal Moon brought me here
To a tiny store all but bare
Was it all a dream
So vague yet real
With sheer allure and Marie's plea
Beckoning me to come near
Lightening flashed and thunder rolled
A puff of smoke and a sudden whirl
Marie was gone before my eyes
But ... the conjure lived on until ...
IT IS FINISHED!
Copyright © 2013 Annie – Original Poetry
Finding Marie
The dream was vague, but oh so very real. This year, I was lucky and had a invitation to Mardi Gras which would bring me to New Orleans again after many years. The dream told me to look for the Opal and follow it to find what I needed...not what I wanted but what I needed.
The sheer allure of the meaning had me first scared, then excited and finally determined. Also, the name Marie was whispered to me over and over -- sheer allure -- could it really be her -- the great one -- the one who only chooses to come through the veil in times of great need -- surely I was not that 'great need'!
Arriving in New Orleans on Friday before the festivities were to begin was the appointed date and time from the dream. After settling in my room and eating an early light supper, I gathered my things. Treasures from the list of artifacts and materials the dream told me to acquire. Secured in a draw-string pouch as instructed, I set off through the French Quarter to look for the 'Opal'.
The obvious place would be Bourbon Street, but my gut told me Royal Street was where I would find what I needed. This was also why I had chosen to stay at the Bourbon Orleans located on the corner of Royal and Orleans. It's previous life had been a convent amoung other things and said to be haunted, but is a beautiful old world hotel that suited me just fine and the location was perfect for everything Mardi Gras.
Turning right on Royal, I walked several blocks, and there it was...a simple storefront gift shop with a huge 'Opal' Moon in the window. Stepping inside, the clerk caught my eye. Bare chested and beautiful, he pulled aside the beaded curtains at the back and said, "she waits". With a whirl and swish of beads he was gone! There she was, in all her beauty and glory, the famous VOODOO Queen of New Orleans. Marie beckoned me, "come my child, I have what you need". Handing her my bag, she opened it with a sly smile. "You have everything for the gris-gris, even the red string that so many usually forget", she said with her eyes lighting up the room. "You will definitely get what you need from me tonight."
I stood back and watched as the great one began the conjour. What seemed like seconds and had me mesmorized, I found had actually taken hours. As she completed her majick, it was nearing midnight and I woke as if from a deep sleep - trancelike, yet refreshed and excited to continue.
Placing the poppet inside my drawstring bag, Marie sat back, looked me hard in the eye, and began the final instructions.
You are to take the street car into the Garden District. Ride to the end of the line and get off. Turn to your left and you will see a stand of Rowans just inside the cemetary gates. Walk to the center of the stand and dig a deep hole large enough for the bag to fit without bending. Say this incantation (she gave it to me written on parchment) the entire time you are in the Rowans. Take your time, majick needs time and concentration to work properly. Once buried, take a palmful of dirt with you. This will be be sprinkled over running water when you get back home...running water that forms a natural separation. Say the incantation one last time, slowly and with intense emotion. When that is done, turn and walk with your head held high and determination in your step. As you exit the Rowan stand, say one time clearly and with meaning, "IT IS FINISHED"! Return to the street car and never look back. Ride to the Quarter stop and find a place with good music, good food, good drink, good fun, but most of all good men. Enjoy yourself until the dawn breaks and remember, "IT IS FINISHED"!
I did as told, had a wonderful time in a little joint on Canal Street dancing until dawn. Lots of good men, but no one I wanted except for the good times of the moment and a night of fun and dancing.
Walking to the Bourbon Orleans at dawn as the streets were being washed and made ready for a new day, I wanted to see my meeting place from the night before. The little store was there, but no 'Opal' Moon hung in the window, no candles flickered on the shelves. It was completely and totally empty with a hand painted sign on the door --- IT IS FINISHED! And it was.
Copyright © 2013 Annie – Original Flash Fiction
This was originally posted at the following web address: http://www.anniestexasmusings.com/finding-marie.html
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