GOODBYE 2022!

Goodbye 2022

10 years ago Queen Elizabeth 2nd named 2012 Annus Horriblus - well in some ways that could be said of 2022 with a war and a continuing pandemic….
However the 8th day of Chanukah and Christmas Day 2022 met in a blaze of light.  And almost real Winter finally hit Naples Florida after 8 years of living here.  Both good reasons to feel gratitude and have a laugh. 

And we can start fresh in 2023!

Transcript

Goodbye 2022

10 years ago Queen Elizabeth 2nd named 2012 Annus Horriblus - well in some ways that could be said of 2022 with a war and a continuing pandemic….
However the 8th day of chanukah and Christmas Day 2022 met in a blaze of light. And almost real Winter finally hit Naples Florida after 8 years of living here.  Both good reasons to feel gratitude and have a laugh. 
And we can start fresh in 2023!

THE COLDEST FLORIDIAN DAY

The bight red cardinal wonders why 

he flew all this way south 

when he could have sat 

on bird  feeders in Connecticut.

The iguana  on the tree 

falls to the ground mumbling 

To the perching cardinal

“it feels like Christmas.”

The alligator slips into the heated pool 

Eyeing the people in the hot tub.

The brown bear thinks to himself. 

Finally my coat is perfect for Florida 

and the hunters will stay away.

THE SEASON OF LIGHT AND GRATITUDE

It is easy to take for granted 

The freedoms so solidly planted.

The Constitution and Bill of Rights

mostly help to avoid the fights

We see now in countries like Iran.

where rulers have another plan

The list is long:

Russia, China, North Korea

Autocrats ruling using fear.

We take for granted freedoms to choose

Where we go, what we do,

What we see, what we hear,

What we buy, what we give,

Here it is just how we can live.

The gratitude we have opens hearts

Making for easy smiles and laughs

We can see natures beauty all around

Go places full of bird songs sound

And others where silence is profound 

At times intentionally taking no phone

I can  feel truly quiet and alone

Watching silver mullets jumping high

Ospreys swooping to catch them on the fly

Anhingas perched in the cypress tree

egrets and herons still as statues,

staring through the water patiently waiting.

As the sun sets with streaks of gold and red

The waders know they will be soon fed

Their prey does not dread,

that their future is dead.

Ours however is full of hope,

Whatever happens in 2023 we can cope.

Because we have freedom of choices

we can listen and speak our own voices,

As long as we are honest and open hearted

These freedoms remain, they have not departed 

REMEMBERING FOOTSTEPS

I love walking:

moors, marshes, deserts

Snowy mountains, rocky hills

Through evergreen forests

Through knee high grasses

Meadows and fields 

On paths crossing sensitive tundra

Colorful blooming heathers

Tropical swamps with wild orchids

Buzzing jungles, eyes watching

Every experience, new and exciting

Give more reasons

To feel gratitude 

for the choices made

The opportunities granted

The life I have been given.

And for our planet earth

Stepping into 2023

I will do what ever I can

 to protect our earth

For all its creatures 

and generations to come

FLORIDA WINTER

A frigid storm hit most of the country.

We did not escape scot free.

After hurricane IAN and lots of mold

now we get days, Grey dreary and cold

Soon depressed, turning on the  heating

sounds of Floridians like sheep bleating.

The sun stopped rising it seems

like nightmares and bad dreams.

Finally our sun returns, our skin burns

abandon these sweaters and pants

for shorts, T shirts and playing tennis

T’was only 4 days in Florida

Imagine 4 months in Maine

I might just go insane

It’s Time to get out again 

as the morning sun glows 

Gratitude freely flows

No wonder the Iguanas fell

I bet they are happy now too.

©MartinStrasmore2022