crossing over that fog encased bridge
the wind doing ceremonial
freedom dances with my hair

that first step out of the taxi
and onto the vividly colorful
rejoicing streets of New Orleans

the little drummer boy who played
his instrument with such passion
my feet couldn’t help but leap along
to the rhythm

the hippie man on the balcony
who shared with me his passionately
growing love for his wife... along with
his one hitter too

and his wife who was never empty handed or lacking energy to dance
with any and everybody who danced back

the twenty something times my best friend looked at me and told me i was beautiful, each drink he consumed making his voice more desperate and his eyes look deeper within me

when the girls below us lifted up their blouses and exposed beautiful ******* of all different shapes, sizes, colors, forms

and the flying beads i threw around their necks like champions, followed by my arms extending as i did a jig of excitement

the wonderful soul of a girl who bought my drinks and told me to follow my dreams

5, 4, 3, 2, 1.... and a kiss
with my best friend who might as well
be in love with me

a cheers
to friendship and freedom
to beauty and love
to life