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Showing posts from 2025

Les Mots Passé (2025.16 - April 2024)

 

Louisiana Words Tour 2025 : Meet the Casts (Lafayette - Baton Rouge - New Orleans)

The Louisiana Words Tour is hosted by J. Michael Norris and the creator, Louis Toliver Jr.! They will be joined by 9 writers featured across 3 Louisiana cities: Lafayette, Baton Rouge, & New Orleans  for 3 live shows ! Each show is one hour including open mic opportunities . Yes, that means even if you are not a featured writer for theses shows, you can still show up to read! Each show is recorded so you will be able to show your friends and family! So, come make history with us!    Friday, August 29th: Lafayette - Cavalier House Books @ 6:3 0pm  Meet the cast of Louisiana Words - Lafayette: Madison Elizabeth Holland, Gabi Miller, & Ted A. Richard. Saturday, August 30th: Baton Rouge - George’s Place @ 6:30pm Meet the cast of Louisiana Words - Baton Rouge: Lance Wise,  Nick Perere, & Sinisa Jancan. Sunday, August 31st: New Orleans - Allways Lounge & Cabaret @ 6:30pm   Meet the cast of Louisiana Words - New Orleans: Noah Tapper,...

Unexpected Places (Madison Elizabeth Holland - Lafayette, LA)

As I lean into the mirror peering at my face The space between my breasts jumps into focus Stark, white, bony in contrast to my soft, heavy handfuls I run my finger down my sternum feeling my breath rise and fall Wanting other hands on me touching where my heart flutters Your appreciation and near-worship makes me tremble under your gaze Never ever felt so cherished and respected by anyone, you, a near stranger The goddess in me wakes languid and seductive, responding to you The poetry in my bones spoke to the music in your steps Temporary, transient, fleeting but the love is just as sincere I never believed in chemistry the way you leeched it from my marrow Wondrous discovery, basking in physicality touch and kiss and gaze An outward reflection of the inner fire When flames lick at each other their melding is not even visible A memory I will carry to my grave a memento of wild passionate drunken nights In my mind I will relive it always the night our souls brushed And the morning that...

Sisters (Annette Redmond Walters - Lafayette, LA)

  Two little girls sitting up at night, Whispering secrets under the moon, Watching shadows in candlelight, Inhaling scents of a southern June. Two young ladies walking in the sun, Sharing promises only they know, Chatting and laughing, making fun, Comforting each other as they grow. Two grown women living far apart, Learning and struggling to be on their own; Each one holding the other in her heart, Both of them feeling very alone. Two best friends home to reunite, Excitedly sharing stories of the past, Kneeling hand in hand by the firelight, Enjoying the love and making it last.

Les Mots Passé (2025.15 - March 2024)

 

So Long Yesterday (Louis Toliver Jr - Swartz, LA)

  I am so glad to be locking up those doors To a house of woes, drama, filth, and ingratitude That was the past and I’m ready for a new home As I walk around sweeping up the place Thinking about the pain I no longer have to endure I smile, cheek-to-cheek, that I don’t live here anymore Jiggling my keys and prancing around with my broom, my mic I don’t even need to play into the details to your risky business Your extreme home makeover was just covering up lies So long Yesterday To the man I was and the problems you caused I’m moving on, I sing the stor

She Sees (Madison Elizabeth Holland - Lafayette, LA)

  She sees people Walking in lines, shuffling past her constantly She's alone in her bed, in her head To any glancing eye But she sees people, not ones she recognizes Just people on their way, like herself She wants to follow but she's not quite ready yet She's tired, so tired, and most days now the fog doesn't clear away The cobwebs growing thicker They confuse her and she doesn't know what to do Surrounded by the people she loved She's all alone, facing the end But for the little girl  Who sat with her, laid in bed with her After days of not being able to see the little girl's face Last night, the girl turned around  She didn't recognize her, yet a part of her knew why she was there Until the end, unknown until right before she begins to cross over A silent sentinel,  Watching Waiting  Guarding Guiding Soon, she knows She'll get out of her bed On her broken legs She'll join the throngs of people And together they'll walk towards What comes ...

Best of the Globe: July 27th - August 2nd, 2025

 

Best of the Globe: July 27th - August 2nd, 2025

 

Featured Writer - All Louisiana Words Live Performances of J. Michael Norris (as of Summer 2025)

Homecoming The Future is Now Allstars 2023    Halloween 2 Summer Vibes Allstars 2022 Halloween New Orleans 2 New Orleans

The Louisiana Words Tour (August 2025): Now Casting!

    Let's express ourselves! Literacy helps free the mind! Literacy helps build community! Our voices matter more then ever! LouisianaWords.com is the home of Louisiana's LGBTQIA+ writers and our allies! We help market new and seasoned writers for FREE! Just submit your work and we’ll get you into our content rotation! You may submit your content to louisianawords@gmail.com or you may contact us through social media! Our summer 2025 season of new Louisiana Words content started Sunday, July 6th! As of January 2025, Louisiana Words has officially become a nonprofit organization! So, we are looking to share the good news with a few live shows across the state of Louisiana. We are planning a Louisiana Words tour to showcase local LGBTQIA+ writers and spread the word about  Louisiana Words, LLC . The show is free! The dates will be Friday, August 29 th  – Sunday, August 31 st . We will be visiting Lafayette, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans in that order....

Les Mots Passé (2025.14 March 2024)

 

Hiding Behind My Truth (Ted A. Richard - Church Point, LA)

Small talk Innocent chatter Idle gossip But the talk isn’t small The chatter isn’t innocent And the gossip isn’t idle We spend our lives talking, chatting and gossiping Always about others but seldom about ourselves What is so important about someone else’s life  That we spend our valuable time Trying to tear them down? Are our lives so uneventful That we must dwell on others’ misfortune? All my life I’ve been taught to tell the truth. “The truth shall set you free!” Bullshit!!! The truth hurts And my heart aches When faced with my own demons. It is so much easier staying mired In small (not so small) talk In innocent (not so innocent) chatter In idle (not so idle) gossip. I find myself hiding Behind the things that matter most to me. I hide behind the fact that I am intelligent Yet allow others to make me feel stupid. I hide behind the fact I am deserving Yet allow others to destroy my worthiness. I hide behind the fact that I live a life of achievement Yet allow others to make my...

Music in My Head (Madison Elizabeth Holland - Lafayette, LA)

I can hear that music playing again  The bass pumped so loud  It vibrates my bathroom  But no one else hears it  I get it, I do.  Falling asleep drunk  With a boombox in your head  That's what it feels like.  You get used to it  That beat rocking every night  It could be a club in your bath tub  If only you had neon lights  But then again  You don't hear it  Anymore  You don't feel it  Anymore  The beat moves without you  From now on,  Since you're an adult  And the tragic nights Pass onward.

The Wine, the Glass, and the Broken Cork (Le Voir N. Lewis - New Orleans, LA)

It  was a  warm afternoon in the  Nob Hill District on a beautiful spring day,  when  a  new  homeowner  looked thru the tempered glass looking out towards the San Francisco Bay. People leisurely walking below was the sight outside  of  his windowpane,  w hile inside was a quaint abode with a certain quietness  and a rustic   loo k  he  could not  explain.  He  sauntered over to  a  makeshift  bar: a round table covere d in linen, made of cambric and lace.    Despite  his classic attempts to be refined,  his pseudo bar  wobbled all over the place.  His setup consisted of three upright wine glasses  and  an ’84  Châteauneuf-du-Pap e  s trategically planted on a gold dipped tray  alongside a corkscrew made of  scrap.     There would be a celebration  after the last box was unpacked, commemorating his transit to ...