Bogalusa Memories

Bogue Lusa Creek 

Many years before the great death, there walked a warrior, Hurinoma 

With towering form and haughty stride, the pride of his father, Kupa,

And the bravest of the tribe.

Following the stream’s gurgling rush, Hurinoma traveled far.

Soon he saw the fires of Puma, neighbor warrior, Chief of Might

And his eyes fell upon Pehadee, daughter of the Puma Tribe

Under the gaze of frowning Puma, young Hurinoma was not wanted,

Here among the Puma Tribe

Strongly beat the heart of the lover as he walked into the light,

Here was beauty pure, haughty woman this Pehadee of the Puma Tribe

As she gazed upon his features, the fire spoke to her ear,

“It is he of our vision, Little Daughter, Hurinoma of the Kupa Tribe.”

Beyond the flicker of the flames, Without a word, without a gesture,

Off into the forest they wandered, away from Puma, from Kupa’s sight.

The wrath of Puma was mighty; the anger of Kupa yet greater,

They joined hands in vengeance as Hurinoma and Pehadee had in love

Beside the crystal clear water of the stream they found them,

Sleeping gently, ‘neath the cypress, and in their madness, they killed them,

As punishment for their love.

The sparkling water, angered by the sight above,

Raged and rumbled, thundered higher, taking the lovers

Deep into a watery grave, and the water darkened deeply, 

from blood of the lovers.

The water kept its blackness, kept the secret in its depths

So it came to be Bogue Lusa, in the language of the Muskogean

And on the nights clear and still, 

Pehadee can be heard calling

Her name across the black water

And the voice of her lover, Hurinoma,

Muffled by the blackened water,

Calls “Hurinoma, Hurinoma”

© 1970, Robert D. Lawrence Jr.

In memoriam

Robert D. Lawrence III

Oct.5, 1962-July 17, 2002