Bad Voodoo

The current situation in the Gulf of Mexico as seen through the eyes of one of its more infamous residents

“Bad Voodoo”

My name is Marie, Ms. Leveau,

Some a'you might call me Queen -

There be no use repeatin' all

The troubles I have seen

Some people blame the creole witch

When bad voodoo they have found -

But bad voodoo it don't come from me,

It come from under ground

I walk my bayou back and forth

With my eyes all on the waves -

The situation here it be most be dire,

The situation here be grave

The gators grow so restless as

The birds and fish get sick -

For floatin' out there in the gulf

There be an oil slick

Now I've seen evil, up and close,

Some wrought by mine own hands -

Yet none of it has scared me such

As this will when it lands

There be no spell I can invoke,

No voudons to implore

For Marie to keep this bad voodoo

From washing up ashore

My name is Marie, Ms. Leveau,

Some a'you might call me Queen -

There be no use repeatin' all

The troubles I have seen

Some people blame this creole witch

When bad voodoo they have found -

But bad voodoo it don't come from me

It come from under ground

Reviews

[Griffin Hill]

OPENING COMMENTS
EXCELLENT. This is exactly what I was hoping to see.

THEME(s)
Is it easy to grasp the theme of the poem? Yes, right on the mark.
Does the poem use any cliches or hackneyed expressions? No, very original.
Does the poem succeed in providing an insight? Absolutely, in a very creative way through the character of Marie.

MOOD(s)
Does the poem create an atmosphere or mood? Yes, with the dialect. I am reminded of Minerva in ‘Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil’

Is the mood maintained effectively? Yes. It gave me chills.

If the mood is the centerpiece, does the poem go beyond pure emotional venting? Yes, it goes way beyond with the images and emotions it evokes. It’s like staring at a painting when more and more meaning is revealed, yet on the surface it’s meaning seems simple.

IMAGERY
Does the poem use imagery effectively? Yes, very effective.
How powerful were the images? The bayou, the waves, the gators, Marie’s voice; all very vivid images.
Were the images too little or too much? just right.

RHYME / METER
Are the rhymes, if any, complex? The rhyme and rhythm, while poetic, is so very real. I can hear and believe Marie would actually speak this way.

If the poem follows a form, is it consistent? Yes. I particularly like the repeated stanza: “My name is Marie, Ms. Leveau, / Some a'you might call me Queen - ...”

Does the poem flow well? very well, indeed.

DICTION
Is the vocabulary in the poem varied? Yes, very much so.

Are any parts repetitive? not overly so. I liked the repeated stanza above; really drove home who she is.

Are words chosen for their maximum impact? oh, yes, very much so.

VOICE
Voice, style, flow (consistent)? Very consistent, even entertaining.

SPELLING / GRAMMAR
Are the grammar and spelling correct? Saw one line that I think is an error:

“...The situation here it be most be dire,...” I think you probably meant to delete the second “be.”

CLOSING COMMENTS
Is there anything you’d like to say in conclusion?

I really liked this poem. It’s a keeper. Putting it in my favorites.

[Revolutionary]

this poem is the overall winner in the oil spill contest I love it and the naration was well done

[Richard Williams]

Congrats on your winning poem; well done and memorable.