EARTH DAY IS EVERY DAY

Taking care of the earth and nature comes naturally once you take a walk slowly, appreciating the plants, animals, insects and birds around you. We are lucky to have a small nature preserve on our doorstep.  You will also hear Kassandra' s gong concert where she plays using the Fibonacci pattern.

Transcript

EARTH DAY IS EVERY DAY

Taking care of the earth and nature comes naturally once you take a walk slowly appreciating the plants, animals, insects and birds around you.  I am lucky to have a small nature preserve on my doorstep.

AROUND THE POND

The glossy ibis displays its iridescent green feathers,

The bright white egret dips into the water ,

the duck couple hang out close together,

The squeaky moor hens paddle around.

It’s late in the day, the golden hour 

the lizard on the path is ignoring me 

so I have to step around it.

The squadrons of dragonflies are back

black and gold wings whirring helicopter blades

INTO THE WOODS

Down low to the ground 

looking into the eyes of the gopher tortoise,

calm and trusting he looks straight at me, 

he knows his role and how to survive

In this harsh dry landscape, 

Playing his part protecting his animal friends

offering his home as safe shelter

when fires and floods strike.

Dragonflies and butterflies, 

bowl moss and Spanish moss, 

spiky palms and dead tree skeletons.

Walking alone in silence

planes and birds flying overhead 

another Gopher walks slowly towards me.

In the distance a black snake slithers across the path 

Sliding quickly into the woods

moments later another glides in the same direction 

not waiting for me like the gopher

Here lizards skip across the ground quickly, 

Pine needles crunch under my feet.

I approach the marsh as quietly as possible.

Not silently enough, the hawk flew off.

Grasses swaying gently in the breeze

grasshoppers hanging on to every leaf 

different sizes many different colors

Tasty morsels for birds but no birds in sight

the occasional dragonfly flies in

claiming leaf landing rights too

DOWN TO THE WATERWAY

Shadows, pavement cracks and twigs 

turn into snakes that don’t move.

Jumping mullets and floating alligators  are real,

Breeze blows in the smell of the water.

Where are the early morning river otters right now?

A teenage alligator floats 

nostrils and eyes just above the surface.

A hermaphroditic magnolia tree about to flower,

buds different sizes and maturities, 

only a few have opened into snow white flowers

to reveal the intricate inner beauty:

the female carpel and the male stamen

As the sun sets 

Anhinga majestically spreads wings

Osprey on the far side scans the river ,

Egret flies in low and stops for a quick snack 

next to friendly  blue and tricolor herons,

ignoring the loud singing and clapping

bouncing across the water

they keep fishing and eating. 

I’m getting hungry now.

ODE TO FLORIDA SUMMERS

The ominous black and grey clouds

roll across the level landscape

as if pulled by a coal powered,

steam driven chariot of fire.

With a roar and rumble

the rains pour down

like a thousand showers

right above our heads.

Flashes of bright forked lightning

silhouette the cypress hammock

as water quickly fills the hollows

covering the trees roots and knees.

Nature happily opens up her lips,

waiting for these rains

to flood the dried out marshes

to release the waiting creatures

Tadpoles, newts, salamanders

all will quickly explode and emerge

from their enforced hibernation

in opaque egg packages.

Our ever-present waders

majestic egrets and great blue herons

nimble tricolor herons and ibises

enjoy new found foods.

Can you imagine happy panthers and coyotes

looking up at the rain clouds

mouths open wide 

drinking in the fresh water.

Then shaking their bodies wildly

throwing out whirling circles

of prismatic water droplets

as the sun breaks through.

The double rainbow arches over the lake,

the washed live oak leaves shine brightly,

each an individually polished mirror

reflecting the bright sun’s return.

Gone is the dark grey afternoon storm light

replaced by brightness from a cloudless blue sky

soon to become pink and gold,

the sunset skies of monsoon season.

The Norherners have migrated back 

to the lands of melting snow and thawing ice

where multi colored spring flowers:

crocuses, daffodils and tulips

sprout up to welcome the snow birds back.

We are left now in a more peaceful

less crowded and quieter place

watching the burrowing owls and owlets

black skimmers flying inches above the water

dolphins playing in the fishing boats wake.

The heat and humidity are high

yet summer in Florida is delightful.

A season to enjoy in many ways

for these next one hundred  days.

©MartinStrasmore2022