Ridin’ round New Orleans on my Vespa
With my baby holdin’ on real tight
Life should be nothin’ if not a movable feast
Lastin’ all day and trippin’ into da night

Headin’ down St Charles to the Quarters
Searchin’ for the freshest beignets
Wavin’ to the tourists on da streetcar
It’s gonna be one of dose days

Sippin’ Café au lait with da Creoles
Listenin’ to brass bands playin’ jazz
Inspired by the likes of Louis Armstrong
Playin’ music wit everything dey has

Shoppin’ for antiques on Royal Street
Headin’ to Galatoire’s for dere trout almandine
Toppin’ it all off at da Napoleon House
My baby’s happy to be makin’ da scene

Lookin’ at all da beautiful mansions
Travelin’ up Esplanade in da cool shade
Degas on da left, JazzFest on da right
Just hold on, baby, don’t be afraid

Takin’ in all da nature at City Park
Mommas and daddies playin’ wit dere kids
If dese century old oak trees could be talkin’
Mo stories den just beer and short ribs

Drivin’ along Bayou St John
On our way to Lake Pontchartrain
We love ridin’ along da lakefront
As we cool down in an afternoon rain

We stopped to eat good seafood
At Fitzgerald’s and we here to tell
Drinkin’ beer and shuckin’ oysters
Suckin’ dem straight off dere slippery shell

Finally headin’ home on my Vespa
With my baby holdin’ on real tight
Life should be nothin’ if not a movable feast
Never endin’ until the sun rises bright

© 2023 Jeffrey Pipes Guice, Finding My Hemingway