Darrell Bourque, Mary Broussard to perform poems of four iconic Louisiana musicians April 5 at Iberia Parish Library

Books Along The Teche Literary Festival presents a poetry event, “Breakdowns, Poems, Two-Steps and Blues,” from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday, April 5, at the Iberia Parish Main Library (445 Main St.). This program, presented by poet Darrell Bourque and Creole accordionist Mary Broussard, combines poetry from Bourque’s book “Where I Waited with Music,” stories in narrative poems of four iconic Louisiana Creole and Cajun musicians: Amédé Ardoin, Cleoma Falcon, Iry Lejeune, and Goldman Thibodeaux.

Born and still living in Church Point, Bourque is a published poet and retired University of Louisiana at Lafayette English professor. As Louisiana’s Poet Laureate from 2007 to 2011, Bourque actively promoted the art form throughout the state and beyond.

“Being poet laureate gives you opportunities to have conversations with people who would not ordinarily be talking about poetry,” he said in an interview for Louisiana Cultural Vistas magazine.

Broussard is a professional Creole-style accordionist, who comes from a musical family that includes her uncles, legendary accordion-player ”Bois Sec” Ardoin and fiddler Carlton Frank. Broussard was with the original Magnolia Sisters in the 1970s, has her own band, Creole Sweet La La, and makes regular guest appearances with her son’s zydeco group, T-Broussard and the Zydeco Steppers.

Admission is free. For additional information, contact Barbara Gautreaux at (337) 380-4279, techefest@gmail.com, or visit BooksAlongTheTecheLiteraryFestival.com and the festival's Facebook.

Louisiana Book News is written by award-winning author Chere Dastugue Coen, who writes Louisiana romances and mysteries under the pen name of Cherie Claire. Her first book in each series is FREE to download as an ebook, including "Emilie," book one of The Cajun Series, "Ticket to Paradise," book one of The Cajun Embassy series and "A Ghost of a Chance," the first Viola Valentine mystery.