Cuddled by mangrove
the dark bayou
keep its secrets of
moonshine-infidelity,
corpses of rejected beaus
and an eel thicker than
a fisherman’s waist.
Spanish moss cocoons
the witch’s shack
by the malevolent lagoon
and it’s said
that few have left
to tell her tale.
Today we have dVerse Quadrille with Melissa hosting. The word is Lagoon and there are many way to see the word. Of course I went sinister with this word, my first exposure was seeing part of ”The creature of the black lagoon” which gave me nightmares for years.
January 8, 2023
Björn Rudbergs writings 
I like how the mangroves cuddle the bayou and the moss cocoons the shack. They’re keeping the darkness “safe”, which is even more sinister. Love “moonshine-infidelity” and “an eel thicker than a fisherman’s waist”. You did a great job with this.
I had a lot of fun and was quite happy with the AI – art too.
Yes, it’s creepy! What did you tell it you wanted a picture of? I can never seem to get good results.
create a photograph of a dark lagoon with a simple shack surrounded by mangrove and curtains of spanish moss
How scary and haunting this turned out to be. Best to keep it a secret. Such horrifying imagery this: an eel thicker than
a fisherman’s waist.
Yes that one is scary… I wouldn’t go for a swim especially since it is said that eels love to eat rotting flesh.
Where do I start? Each phrase stands out beginning with “moonshine-infidelity”… “an eel thicker than
a fisherman’s waist” climaxing in the malevolent force concentrated in the “witch’s shack” — The story (stories) this lagoon could tell!
But everyone who has such tales have been fed to the eel.
Macabre, quite.
You definitely went sinister with this one, Björn, with hints of voodoo, and creatures in the ‘malevolent lagoon’. I love the idea of the dark bayou being ‘cuddled by mangrove’, the ‘moonshine-infidelity’ and that very scary eel!
and I didn’t even mention the snakes
Delightfully creepy! I’ve lived near the swamps and yes, you forgot the snakes. LOL!
I think maybe a mysterious eel is even more scary
very atmospheric. sent chills down my spine
I am scared of dark lagoons
worth being scared of
Such great images here, Björn. I could really picture it.
Love “moonshine-infidelity.”
I had fun combining those words.
🙂
You made my scalp tingle on this one. Your poem reminds me of this song by Redbone, a great Indigenous band:
I will listen to that one… sounds very interesting.
I watched a netflix documentary a week or so ago on Indigenous musicians in the US. It was very enlightening. One thing they pointed out with Redbone is how the drumming echoes traditional drumming.
Björn, your poem “Bayou Secrets” is mysterious and intriguing. Well done on creating an atmospheric piece that lingers in the imagination!
~David
I had a lot of fun writing it… atmosphere is something that I find the most fun to create.
Your Bing created image is amazing!!! And wow….what a creepy lagoon you’ve written about. All you have to do is mention an eel (never mind how thick this one is!) and you’ve got my fear up!!!
I wonder if you have ever the tin drum (german movie from a book by Gunther Grass) there is an eel scene there that I do not recommend you watching then.
Björn, you definitely went to the dark side here I love it😃
Dark is creepy but nice.
Not a place I would want to visit! Absolutely loved the line ‘and an eel thicker than
a fisherman’s waist.’
Your quadrille has a great ‘shanty’ sound and rhythm to it.
Thank you… it was fun to write
Wow…I love this Bjorn. Such an atmospheric poem in just 44 words. I love the idea of mangrove cuddle…but then mangroves are may favourite tree. Excellent poem,.
Mangroves are so important… but they alse create a sense of closedness. A great tree to hide within.
I love the setting of the swamp scenery, it sounds like an intro to a gothic fairytale.
A dark place where to start I think
The Neville Brothers started playing in my head. Great scene, great story, all in 44 words!
I need to listen, thank you for the advice
There is something thick and heavy about those swampy places, a waiting…. A watching…
Yes, I agree.
moonshine-infidelity: absolutely love that….!!!
Also there is the double meaning of moonshine… 🙂
Exactly!!! That’s what makes it so clever!!!
A fun read.
I especially like the “secrets of
moonshine-infidelity” and the description of the eel. Places like this in the southern bayous of the U.S. have a special kind of magic.
They really do… so much seems to hide within..
Oooh a scene is really set here – like the start to a story when you want to know more … such clever descriptive choice
💞Suzanne
Thank you… Quadrilles are great to do that kind of descriptions.
A great photo to go with you lagoon poem!
I created it myself with AI
Nice, You and Rob are getting good at AI creations.
Love the use of cuddled in the beginning and the contrast with what follows. An excellent write.
Thank you… I had a lot of fun trying to find good descriptive words.
I love the topic of bayou hoodoo and mysticism. You have depicted it well.
There are dark places deep in the swamps…
Dark, but marvellous, Björn!
I like dark
Love the word play and imagery in this piece.
I had fun writing it and creating the image.
“Few have left to tell her tale” – malevolent indeed, and beware that eel.
The eel gets plenty of food.
Ha, I think I’ll go around her place.
Well expressed.
Scary.
The image does justice too 🙂
Thank you… I have had fun with the image and imagery…
Scary! Reminds me a lot about the Bayou from Scooby Doo in Zombie Island. So very frightening!
Fantastic poem! Very eerie descriptions 🙂
Haunting!