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Adam Conrady

Kyle Fitzpatrick

Sergio Morales

Chris Duong

Alison Pagel

Poetry

I Must Go Down to the Sea

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky, And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by, And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sail’s shaking, And a grey mist on the sea’s face and a grey dawn breaking.

I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied; And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying, And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life, To the gull’s way and the whale’s way where the wind’s like a whetted knife; And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover, And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick’s over.

– John Masefield

Robert’s Journal-My Return

I finally made my way back to New Orleans.  I wondered what would happen if I saw Edna.  Would it be awkward, would she be mad, or would everything be alright?  So many different things could happen that it worried me to return.  When I finally did return the first person I saw was Edna.  She was in Mademoiselle Reisz’s house for some reason.  I’m glad I saw her right away but she was feeling angry with me because I never wrote to her or even told her I came back.  I apologized and told her the true reason I left for Mexico was to get away from her.  I did not want to do anything stupid because she was a married woman.  Later I realized that she was thinking about me the whole time I was gone.  I think she truly loves me as I truly love her.  We shared a kiss and admitted our love one night but the moment was ruined when she had to rush to Adele’s side during her pregnancy.  I sincerely wish that moment would have lasted longer. It may have been our last.  I am unsure of whether or not we can truly be together.  I love her, but I do not wish to cause her or her family any pain.  I wonder what will happen between us. . .

Robert and Edna’s kiss

Edna’s Diary #2

Many things have happened beginning with Mademoiselle Reisz’s statement that Robert loves me but was trying to forget because I am not free.  This has made me feel quite energetic.  I have made some decisions to change my life and have let Leonce know that I will be moving to a small house of my own.  Of course Leonce has covered up what is truly happening by remodeling our old house.  I have also had a kiss which has opened my eyes to feelings that I haven’t felt in a long time.  The kiss was from Alcee.  Alcee has been showing me a lot of affection and trying to spend lots of time with me.  It meant nothing because it was not from the one I love but it has changed the way I have been thinking about things.  I had a fantastic party with a few friends before moving from our old house to my new one.  I also spent time with my children Raoul and Etienne on their grandmother’s farm.  It was wonderful to hug them and spend time with them.  However, now that I am home I am feeling alone again.  Will Robert ever return?  Will I be able to fill this emptiness I feel?  Only time will tell.

The children’s grandparent’s farmhouse

Edna’s Diary

Robert hasn’t forgotten me after all!  He wrote to Mademoiselle Reisz and all he talked about was me, and wondered how I am doing.  I still wonder why he never wrote to me directly but that is probably because he was worried about making my husband mad.  I am so glad he is concerned with what I am doing just as I am concerned about him.  My father came back to visit and that kind of took my mind off of things.  I had a really good time with him until the day he left.  We got in a big argument over how I am not going to go to my sisters wedding.  He cannot make me go so it was pointless for him to argue with me over it.  Leonce on the other hand will most likely attend the wedding,  trying to take my place and not upset my sister.  The kids also left and went to Leonce’s mothers leaving me all by myself for a while.  I spent most of my time reading, visiting my friends, going to the track, and thinking.  Alcee, a man I met at the track with my father, invited me to go along with him to the track and I did.  After the race he stayed for dinner.  I made him leave after not wanting to him to stay long and when he left he kissed my hand.  I can’t believe he did that!  I feel horrible, I feel like I betrayed someone.  Sadly, it is not my husband, I feel like I betrayed Robert.

 

Leonce’s Letter To Dear Abby

Dear Abby,

My wife is acting strangely lately and I don’t know what to do.  She is not doing any of her natural duties as a wife.  I have noticed that she does not care for her kids like most mother-women do.  For example, I told her one of our children might be sick and she wouldn’t even check on him.  She just said that the child was fine when she put him to bed and wouldn’t believe my concerns. She might not be the natural mother-woman but she still is obligated to her children and her husband.  What should I do to make her realize this?  She won’t even receive visitors every Tuesday like she used to.  This could ruin my relations with the husbands and their business. She walks alone to places unknown and returns very late at night.  Something changed when we went to Grand Isle this summer.  Maybe it was the man she was always with that she never sees anymore.  Should I get professional help from a doctor?  I don’t want to tell her that I think she might have problems mentally.  How should I handle this? Please help me!

Sincerely,

A Worried Father and Husband

Robert’s Journal

Edna and Robert walking together

I might finally be taken serious for once.  Today Adele warned me to let her alone because she is not like all the other Creole women.  This could be a good thing because for once I will not be treated as a fool and laughed about.  Adele warned me that I would lose my good reputation if I courted married women but that isn’t what I am trying to do.. I think.  Edna is really taking me seriously and I wish I knew how she truly felt or if she is just like the other Creole women all the times before.  She had a servent wake me so we could go to Chênière Caminada together.  I didn’t think too much of it, but who knows why she called on me to accompany her.  We spent the entire day together and had a glorious time.  However, the next day I finally had my chance at following my dream and going to Mexico.  I had to take it and decided to go that night.  Perhaps this trip to Mexico will put distance between whatever we have going on right now.  I never told Edna and I am feeling sort of bad about it but it’s something I have to do.  At night when I talked to her I felt bad for not telling her beforehand and leaving on such short notice.  Shall I write her like she asked or look forward to my own future in Mexico?  I guess only time will tell.

Edna’s letter to her sister

Dear Sis,

Congratulations on your engagement!  I hope you truly found the man of your dreams. It is important that you are sure that the feelings you have for him will last forever and it’s not just a convenience marriage like mine is.  My husband is the best you could ask for when it comes to providing for his family but I’m not quite sure that he is my soul mate.  I do love my kids, but I’m not the mother-woman that my husband wishes for.  I don’t find myself living the life that I used to dream of.  This summer at Grand Isle I’ve spent much time staring at the ocean and thinking.  Remember the Kentucky blue grass when we were children?  I could spend hours aimlessly walking through those meadows.  Now I seem to look at miles and miles of the sea and thinking of the past compared to the life I live now.  I’m not sure what I am searching for.  I have found a good companion in Madame Ratignolle.  She is a perfect example of the Creoles way of being a mother-woman and a good wife to her husband.  I hope that our friendship continues and she can lead me down the right path.  I’m sorry to ramble about all my problems with life when I should be trying to prove to you the upsides of marriage.  I’m sure the man you’re marrying is a wonderful choice.  Best wishes and lots of love from your favorite sister.

Love, Edna

Edna’s childhood in the meadow