I took a slight detour from my Texas birding vacation to meet up with Non Birding Bill for some non birding shenanigans in New Orleans. It’s fun, it’s like we’re on some strange, romantic hook up in a weird little city. Walking around the French Quarter turns you into a dial of the great big live radio. People looking for money, don’t stand by passively with a cardboard sign, they sing or play music…or write poetry.
We walked over to a place called the Spotted Cat where we ran into a friend who was with a voodoo priestess. The VP was telling me about a healing she’s doing this weekend for the Gulf Spill (should be good for birds?) and then she pointed out a gent with a desk across the street who was a Poet for Hire.
So, I asked how much, he said he’s like between $10 – $20, but whatever is good. We negotiated style (he does haiku) and I told him to write in his favorite style. He asked for a subject and I said that I wanted tufted titmouse, he asked a couple of questions then requested 15 – 20 minutes to work…leaving us plenty of time to be serenaded by a man singing like Sam Cooke on a bike.
He handed me a brown piece of paper with his typed up poem, we handed him $15 and thoroughly enjoyed the results. I typed up the poem below:
Tufted Titmouse by Matt, New Orleans Street Poet for Hire.
No mere reedling, the tufted titmouse;
it’s crest announces its nobility among
oscine kin
And well it should be respected, regal feathers
over tiny eyes
and the observer debates which is keener…
the attentive point of the crest, soft as a pillow,
or the snappy beak, tougher than a nut
of gourmet seed
You can band these birds
but they won’t be banned
as they drop titmouse turds
and nip at the crimping hand
LOVE IT! i miss having the titmice fly to my hand to get a piece of peanut.
Brilliant! Fancy the idea of a poet for hire… I envy you deeply.
Please give the birthday boy a hug from me. Have one for yourself.
Wonderful!
Enjoy the party, and tell Neil Happy Birthday from me.
lol, I will
That’s several levels of awesome.
Ha, ha! Very cool!
I showed my husband this picture when you first posted it because I thought it was so cool.
We were just there! We spent some time at the bar your poet was in front of!
best ever! Thanks for posting the poem.
What a wonderful feeling for the lovely titmouse he has….I’m in love.
@art d. I loved them music at that bar.
What a great anecdote/opportunity! New Orleans is such a unique place. Was he really typing on a typewriter? How cool!
Love it! Thanks for sharing it. Maybe with your blog cred he’ll get a book deal.
Who doesn’t love Titmice! Great poem and I’d love to learn how to get a Titmouse to eat from my hand. Any suggestions?
What a wonderful, magical poem. Thank you for sharing it with us. (And love the photo.)
-That- is just plain wonderful, especially the last stanza.
Have Big Fun down there, wish the b’day boy the best year ever.
Yeek – I’m in New Orleans right now and my friends have been to the Spotted Cat at least twice. I’ve seen the poets for hire outside.
Very cool and sounded intelligent, too!
Great poem, and you were a my favorite city, my home away from home, N’Awlins!
I hope this goes on the wall, honey…..
xoxoxoxoxox
Fabulous! I think its so cool you took the chance and paid the guy to write this poem! Perfect!
Most excellent.
I love the poem and the fact that he fit in BANDING! Even my hand got in on the act.