SWAMP FAIRIES
Down in the bayou the swamp fairies fly. Their flickering lights fill the sky They zip and zoom through the marshy grass. They lite in trees, they dip and dash. Down in the bayou where the swamp fairies fly, on the edge of my seat I watch them go by. Over the edge of my little boat I watch them play, out in the swamp in my favorite bay, until the night is dark and they’ve all gone away. Jacqueline BuffinetYou can a blame a song for this painting! Right after Christmas I found this lovely French Cajun song called Au Bord du Lac Bijou (On The Shores of Lake Jewel). I fell in love with it, played it repeatedly, found the translation and fell in love with it more. I vowed to learn every lyric in French. (So far I only know the chorus by heart.) It so reminds me of what my idea is of what it must have been like for Huey growing up in the bayous and swamps of Lafitte Louisiana. A simple time where all the meaning for life and love can be found sitting in the quite of a bayou watching a pair of birds that are mates for life. I tried to fit the birds in the painting but it didn’t work. This is really about the boy and the bayou. Perhaps I’ll get the bird-couple into another painting at another time.
So for the past couple of weeks, I’ve spent whatever time I’ve had for creating art working on this painting. Then came time to share it on Illustration Friday. This week’s word is EDGE. Well the only Edge I could find in this picture is that the boy is peering over the edge of his boat. That idea and the thought of fireflies being the fairies of the swamp resulted in the little poem found above. I wrote it specifically for this painting. I hope you enjoy it.
Here is the link to the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpY-SKIjReI
And here is the English translation:
On The Shores Of Lake Bijou
In South Louisiana, In the Attakapas wood Where the river meets the levee Planted in the cove is an old live oak On the shore of Lake Bijou (jewel). Amongst its leaves, in the tangle of the branches The swallows return every spring They find refuge in that old oak On the shore of Lake Bijou (jewel). Chorus: Turn, turn in my arms Hold me tight once again Stay with me underneath the live oak tree On the shore of Lake Bijou (jewel). It was in 1957 The first time that I saw them. The two together, building their nest On the shore of Lake Bijou (jewel). They would return when the winter was done I called them Pierre and Marie A big «Monsieur » black as the night. His lady by his side. Chorus During Lent this last April I saw him one last time A lone bird, waiting on his branch On the shore of Lake Bijou (jewel). He was still, his heart breaking Watching from morning until night Until that Sunday when he was gone From the shore of Lake Bijou (jewel). Chorus
Beautiful illustration! Love the little fire fly and magical effect you created!