#16: The Water Hyacinth's Swamp

Louisiana Bound (2008) Part 16 of 40 - The Water Hyacinth's Swamp The boat tour through the swamp was really fascinating in some ways. The vessel was large enough for some passengers to stand around, chat, take pictures, hold on to the ceiling rafters and stuff like that. Captain was a little concerned that some overhead rods would break, so after watching them bend for a while, he issued an announcement for us to be careful not to use the unstable rods to hold ourselves up. We heeded his advice and the ceiling didn't cave in on top of us. Captain's alligator story wasn't pleasant, yet it was true. I thought it should be told. Every year there is a day or two when fisherman can hunt alligators in the swamp. Gator bait is attached to a large hook which is hanging from a strong line tied to a post. When the gator jumps up for the bait, it grabs the food with a gulp and the hook also. The fishing line drops down a short distance, along with the bait and then tightens. The body weight of the gator plunges the hook deep into its mouth or throat. Then the gator is left hanging there until the hunter picks it up. Personally, I would search for more humane better ways to hunt gators. Myself, I glanced at the fishing hook on a post to the left of the captain. His seat was at the front on the starboard side (right side) of the boat. The hook was hanging in a safe place, provided no one reached up and grabbed it by mistake. That wasn't likely to happen. The hook, made from thick metal, had an eye thick enough to allow a heavy line to be attached. The shaft was about five inches long and the gap maybe an inch and a half wide. It seemed to be on the rusty side, but still the point and barb would have been sharp enough to penetrate flesh. I think it was for catching alligators. An adult human is about the size as a small gator. To grab that hook by mistake would have been very painful. Everywhere on the water were those water hyacinths. I figured they deserved their own poem. I could not write it until after our trip. But now, here it is. The Water Hyacinth If any person was totally deafblind That water hyacinth he could find It bobs in the Atchafalaya swamp Where boats motor but men don't stomp. If the hyacinth was a floater on a fishing line Men would watch it dip and take the time To jerk the fishing rod wrapped in the wish That on their hook was a good-sized fish. The water hyacinth though a floater it be Is the kind that bobs in a swamp endlessly And there appears to be no pattern set Maybe it's just content on getting wet. It bounces and bobs, it ducks down under If it had a voice it'd be like rumbling thunder But a voice the water hyacinth doesn't need It speaks with actions this bobbing weed. So when human reproduction is terribly slow Learn from those hyacinths, watch them glow And know they're always out there producing As increasing by thousands is their true thing. Watch the hyacinth which can mesmerize As it falls and rises before your human eyes It bobs and weaves in the swamp constantly In a way proclaiming that it is wild and free. Poem Written by Harvey A. Bond April 28, 2008 Okay there was too much information for one poem, so it was broken down into two poems. Consider it a two for one deal, lol. But in the next poem, I do make the assumption that the water hyacinth could be raised about a foot up onto the flat surface of a boat, just the top part of the water plant so some could see it with their limited vision and feel it with their sensitive touch. Oh if some had no vision, they could feel it and let touching and hearing about it paint a unique picture in their minds. Yeah, and smell it too! Now, I am not tasting it, but you can, if you desire. Besides crawfish, I do not eat water hyacinths. It is a decision I just made. Also, maybe deafblind people could reach it from a low boat and touch it so gently with the front of a flat hand that the fingers would feel the movement, the dipping and bobbing. That would be great! Something I would like to try! Now if some deafblind persons felt they could tactile sign to the water hyacinth, well to each his own. lol. If though, they imagine it is signing back to them, em, I know a good doctor which I could recommend them to. So here is the poem. Touch Me, Feel Me The water hyacinth behaves like a clown No need to stomp feet to bring it around And if you are one of those deafblind friends You can experience it from the close-up end. With a strong dip net held by a friend and you Scoop under the hyacinth, that's what to do Raise it a little to a flat surface on the boat And softly feel its parts and see how it floats. And once you're content with the gentle touching Ease it back into the swamp water where it is king Maybe you don't see it quite in that frame of mind But such a fast-growing kingdom is difficult to find. So observe that plant as it bobs about and weaves And soon even the doubters would have to believe That left alone, the Atchafalaya Swamp it would rule But the final outcome to the swamp could be cruel. Poem Written in fun by Harvey A. Bond April 28, 2008 The passengers seemed to be enjoying themselves. Now they were more relaxed and the action had increased. Many were taking pictures. An atmosphere of fun, excitement and adventure prevailed as we felt comfortable with Captain. Written by Harvey A. Bond

 

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