The Atchafalaya Basin by Rhonda Bronte Brown
Across the boot parishes, a vast swampland exists where the Cypress reign as keepers of the river forest.
Underneath a feathery dome, robed in reddish-bark with shields of twisted branches, resides the age-old kings.
Gators serve as sentries guarding the murky waters below, instilling respect for life and doom for the ignorant.
Sinkholes, shifting sand, watchful eyes always stare, ever mindful of a changing landscape.
A river basin teams with bass, crappie, and crawfish, full of beauty and wonder. Its esse seeps into a Cajun's soul.
Stagnant water breeds relentless mosquitoes. Yet, the yellow warbles and purple martins feast.
Host to mink, otters, muskrats, bears, deer, and bobcats, this bayou exists for life and shares in its hardships.
Standing between worlds is a glimpse of immortality, a time passage that remains under the Cypress' rule.
Resources: https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/louisiana/stories-in-louisiana/the-atchafalaya-river-basin/ https://www.basinkeeper.org/theatchafalayabasin#:~:text=Other%20animals%20that%20call%20the,%2C%20armadillo%2C%20fox%20and%20opossum.
“This was written as a haiku, but I trashed it and started over. The haiku may have captured the essence of Louisiana's swampland but missed its vibrancy.”
Rhonda Bronte Brown's work has appeared in Better Than Starbucks Journal, the Trouvaille Review, Haiku Seed Journal, and featured in Haiku Pond Podcast. She is an active SCBWI and Storyteller Academy member. Her educational degrees include a BS and Master, and she is a National Board-Certified Teacher. As a retired counselor/teacher who lives in Arkansas, she now writes children's books and various forms of poetry. Find her online at https://brontebrown2.com.