EVOLUTION
I dip my toes into the blue green Gulf water
feeling the cooling waves splashing
up my legs hot from the morning walk
on a Florida Summer day
Like local birds and animals
we, humans, have evolved
now somewhat heat resistant Floridians
far away from the Northern snow.
My skis rest against a wall
in the crowded garage
hopelessly waiting for snow
that we left seven years ago.
soon it will be time to accept
lack of snow and passing years
have finally demolished
my skiing ambitions,
though I long for one last trip.
Yellowstone in Winter
Clouds of steamy buffalo breathe
steaming and bubbling gysers
melting the pure white snow.
ON THE BEACHES WITH AUDUBON
We cut and bump through the chop
to the black skimmer beach
Lining the shore they wait
with one impulse or interruption take off
becoming a cloud of black and white
flashing orange red beaks, jet black eyes
wing tip to wing tip covering the blue sky
swoop and dip, a squadron of top gun pilots
exercising rights to their beach
and their patch of water
Their mottled offspring/chicks wait patiently
hoping their parents will go further
actually go fishing returning with food
but the time is not yet right/now
noon is not good fishing time
so everyone paddles in the surf
staying cool
getting ready for the next top gun sorty.
SKIMMING TIME
The large brown pelican
plummets straight down
beak and gullet wide open
then snapping shut and hoping
the fish was in its dive path
An osprey high in the sky
glides then swoops down
sharp talons dipping just below
the choppy waves
hooking a large sunfish
The tiny speedy least terns
acrobatically dip and dive
surfacing with shiny silver fish
in their tiny beaks
Then the elegant black skimmers
demonstrate their unique technique
gracefully flying inches above the water
their long lower mandible dipped
into the water
Fishing by touch they need no light
with a sudden snap and whip
the catch is completed.
In the shallow areas
the statuesque great blue herons
stand perfectly still
eyes piercing the surface
in a blur their long beak snatches
another fishy victim
The green heron drops bait of feathers
the roseate spoon bill spoons
The morph heron stirs the water
While I watch in delight and awe.
©MartinStrasmore2022