The Mardi Gras Indians



Right after the turn of the century

The Mardi Gras Indians came alive...

The tribes came from all over the city

From the different wards where they still survive...


Downtown Indians use sequins and feathers...

Uptowners use feathers, rhinestones and beads...

The main part of every costume is the patch...

A message from the heart is what it reads...


After a year of making their costumes

Using all the velvet and sequins galore...

The chiefs are ready to share their magic

And keep their costumes a secret no more...


Spy Boy stands out in front

Making sure no tribes are near...

He communicates with First Flag

In case a gang is sharing fear...


Once the Big Chief gets his signal 

He leads the tribe safely through the hood...

He protects his tribe from danger

as any brave Mardi Gras Chief should...


When two tribes would come together

They use to settle any bad score...

But today the tribes are friendly

And gang fighting they do no more...


‘Me no Humba, you be Humba’

Is what one Chief says to the other...

At the end of the Mardi Gras season

All the tribes become one, my brother...


© 2020 Jeffrey Pipes Guice

Photograph: Ryan Hodgson-Rigsbee

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