EVOLUTION

Living in South West Fl these last 7 years have given a me new perspective of nature and its wonders.  These reflect some of these experiences.

Transcript

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