A WANDERING WEEK IN FLORIDA #2

During the second half of my State Parks trip I walked on long trails, kayaked and swam in refreshing natural springs, and learned about Florida’s enormous underground rivers and springs that feed into its aquifer systems. I hope my words paint pictures of the places, and you can find photos on my website thewalkingpoet.net

Transcript

A Wandering Week in Florida 2

During the second half of my State Parks trip I walked on long trails, kayaked and swam in refreshing natural springs, and learned about Florida’s enormous underground rivers and springs that feed into its aquifer systems. I hope my words paint pictures of the places, and you can find photos on my website thewalkingpoet.net

HOMOSASSIS

The pontoon boat glides

along the river

shy river otters 

slow moving turtles

a flock of wood ducks.

So perfectly painted 

bright red eyes,

feathers of glossy teal, greens, blues, purples and browns

outlined with black and white lines.

Off the boat:

walking through the park

A strange sight appears

by himself with a house and pond

Large and rotund, with grey leathery skin

Enormous toothy mouth and tiny ears

Lu, a 63 years old hippopotamus

Change scenes!

Pelicans nesting

Flamingoes strutting

Owls watching

Otters undulating 

On the Boardwalk over the river 

it is time for the manatees.

Florida’s amphibious elephants

large grey submarines under the dappled water

occasionally a hairy nose pops up for air

mothers and calves swim together

you can feel the almost human intelligence

The caring, gentleness and love

As the community swims and breathes together.

Here people and wild creatures co-exist

with only fences between us.

it is possible to see and feel the beauty

Birds and animals of many colors, shapes and sizes

a world we must protect.

KAYAKING THE CHAZ  (Chassahowitzka River)

Paddling Silently, as the golden hour approached

past Crab creek, Salt creek into Stevens creek

and the tangled skeleton tree

loaded with ibises and blue herons.

As if walking on water,

the colorful blue heron with ruby eyes

In a floating garden of river algae

and sea weeds,

Stands focused, waiting, and watching.

in the gently changing sunlight and shadows

I float quietly, waiting and watching too.

We are together in a shared trance

In a timeless communion 

in a blur,  blue pounced

nothing caught for now.

As I paddle back, leaving blue,

A flock of black vultures

with bright red heads

and clean white underwings

swoop down into a dark copse.

I stop, move closer and watch

peering into the thick dark undergrowth

I can see no carcass being shredded

leaving me wondering 

Do vultures just hang out for fun?

HILLSBOROUGH RIVER

Excitement builds 

hiking on the Rapids trail

white water in Florida!

Mossy rocks and foam,

Good try folks.

More excitement

2 turtles pose on logs

with an anhinga

The large American alligator

lies conveniently aligned

with the informational sign

describing him or her.

MANATEE SPRINGS

sunlight angles through the cypress swamps

casting playful patterns on the flowing water

highlighting the flowing Old man’s beard.

Across the river

the tall and graceful great blue

perches on a submerged rock 

As manatees swim close by him

hairy snouts in the air

maybe communicating 

with their heron friend.

Behind the heron

the swamp stretches far back

into dark shadows

home to myriad unseen creatures

sheltering safely from us, the people.

I am grateful for those who acted

to preserve and protect these parks

WEEKI WACHEE

We wait in line

The Ukrainian couple

here through her uncles grace.

They started in Brooklyn 

full of ex-pat Russians,

supporting Putin’s war;

so they escaped to Florida.

We cry together 

feeling the atrociousness of war

Now for the show:

Mermaids really do exist

a show not to be missed

They dance around as a pair

breathing and bubbling air

Hermit the frog also dancing

And a prince comes prancing.

into the clear spring water. 

we watch through the underwater window

From this one spring gushes

150 million gallons

enough water for

a glass of water for all Floridians

every day.

©MartinStrasmore2023

WHAT IS FULLFILLMENT

A place to be this year for sure

content and wanting no more

Using gifts granted me

to the best of my ability

listening and hearing what is truly needed

to uplift the lives of others

being present for all those I love

Grey wool covered one

Pen wanders from book to book

red leather journal

wins this morning

It’s four am

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. I am now too awake I mior some new gift start to make. . I clearly don't understand how to get ght-even take a cake

Words in the right place as they randomly appear in the middle of old lines as I want to stop and go to sleep.