Tami Hoag: Cry Wolf

I look down at the woman in the boat. She smiles as if I own the moon. The courage of a tiger. The gentleness of a dove. My wife. I was nothing without her.

I pole the boat forward, toward home, and know contentment for the first time in my life.

Alfred, Lord Tennyson

The Lotus-Eaters

allée – avenue, path

allons danser – let's dance

allons jouer la music, pas les femmes – let's go play music, not women

arrête sa – stop it

baire – mosquito netting

bâteau – boat

beau-père – stepfather

bébé – baby

bon à rien, tu, 'tit souris – good for nothing, you, little mouse

bon Dieu – good God

bon Dieu avoir pitié – good God have mercy

bonjour – good day

c'est assez – that is enough

c'est la vie – that is life

c'est vrai – that is true

c'est la guerre – that is war

catin – doll

cher/chère/chérie – term of endearment

coonass – slang term for Cajun, often derogatory

dépêche-toi – hurry up

espèces de tête dure – you hardheaded thing

etalon – stud, stallion

grand rond – literally "big circle," traditionally called at the start of a fight

grand-mère – grandmother

gris-gris – spell, charm (as with voodoo)

joie de vie – joy of life

jolie fille – pretty lady

laissez le bon temps rouler – let the good times roll

Le Mascarade – The Masquerade

ma belle – my beautiful

ma douce amie – my sweet love

ma bon pichouette – my good little girl

mais oui/mais yeah – but yes

mais sa c'est fou – that's crazy

ma jolie fille – my pretty girl

"Ma Petite Fille Est Gone" – My Little Girl Is Gone

merci/merci boucoup – thanks/many thanks

mon ami – my friend

mon coeur – my heart

oui – yes

pas de bétises – no joking

pas du tout – not at all

petite fleur – little flower

pirogue – canoelike craft

restaurant et salle de danse – restaurant and dance hall

roux – flour browned in fat, used for thickening gravy etc.

s'il vous plait – please

sa c'est de la couyonade – that is foolishness

sa me fait de le pain – I'm sorry

sa c'est honteu – that's a shame

son pine – his penis

techeue poule – chicken ass

'tit boule – little balls

'tite ange – little angel

'tite chatte – little cat

traiteur – folk healer

tu menti – you lie

une belle femme – the pretty woman

va-te'n – go away

"Valse de Grand Mèche" – The Big Marsh Waltz

viens ici – come here