Lake Morton, in Lakeland, Florida is filled with easy shots. I admit it – I took the easy shots. The only one of these that required anything of me was the Ibis with his face of curiosity. He would only approach if you weren’t looking. I love the faces of the birds that I encounter – they are so filled with expression, even if it is the expression that I assign them through personification. Saturday was glorious and warm and a short day trip was the perfect thing.
all summer we shovel heat
scrape humidity
icing our drinks
as we huddle close around
the fan
now
at last
phoebe
and the buffleheads
have returned
from the edges of the arctic
to cheer us
with news that a light
sweater might be needed
© Jilly’s All Rights Reserved
De is hosting the Quadrille at dVerse this week; come and raise a toast with us as we enter a season of cheer!
It occurs to me that Phoebe and the Buffleheads would be a great name for a rock band, but in reality, these are two of the birds that winter here in Central Florida. It is a seasonal milestone when each of these species arrive; one for which there is much rejoicing in the land 🙂
There they are, weaving, braking, menacing their innocent way along the bad dream that is I-4. This highway that has more deaths per mile than any other interstate in the nation and it is under a decade-long face-lift. Wrinkles are being removed and crooked bones straightened. Even the locals find it hard to know where the lane lines are, as they text and apply make-up on their morning Orlando commute. But there they are; Tourists. Herds of them arrive every winter from every state and every part of the world. They are here for our World, Disney, that is. Land of Mickey and home of Harry (Potter – he and Ron and Hermione reside at Universal). So, as I was saying, there they are, weaving, braking, menacing, all in the left lane of the dreaded I-4. Weaving, you ask? That occurs when they spot the Central Casting building for the Magical World, which is, of course, right along I-4. We know them, these Tourists, they have licence plates from places where it is currently snowing and cold and bumper stickers that proclaim their undying allegiance to Epcot. That’s the place with the giant golf ball, in case you didn’t know. They have an event called Drinking Around the World. This car full of Tourists may have already been there for all of their weaving, breaking, menacing. Florida drivers are known for driving fast; really, really fast. It’s only because we value our lives and want to get quickly around this car full of Tourists.
I floor it and buzz-lightyear past them. Whew! Made it. Oh no! Look! Just ahead… it’s another one, only bigger! An RV, towing a small vehicle, complete with bike racks and coolers that are mostly strapped down. And what are they doing? Well, you know the routine.
natives garbed in coats
travelers bikini clad
locals travailing
© Jilly’s All Rights Reserved
Join me as I host Unconventional Haibun at dVerse this week!
live oaks retain life
November the joyous month
southern doors flung wide
thankful for reprieve from heat
we walk in the midday sun
© Jilly’s All Rights Reserved
Posted for Frank J. Tassone’s Haikai Challenge #8 – Thanksgiving.
November is the most beautiful month in Florida. It is a time of returning to life and being outside; this is our season of life.
Michigan
Oh how I long to fish again
In that big lake
And reel in a take
Of perchsalmonandtrout
Watching the Gary-induced
Sunset parades
Illinois
Robed in flannel and ribbed corduroy
Pier and museums
Wish you could see ums
The green river and blues
Toe-tappin’ my shoes
South Caroline
Azaleas devine
Learnin’ the language
Y’allin with vantage
Heart-blessin’ and okra
At times I do miss her
Indiana
Was mean, no milk, honey or manna
Surviving and dying
No tears left for crying
We danced on our way out the door
Florida
Here the world has no border
Seventyleven languages heard daily
Wouldn’t trade her for all the climes
Northly
© Jilly’s 5/11/2017 All Rights Reserved
Writing List Poems over at dVerse. Grab a pen and come on over!
“…in the black changing sound of night, the enormous Florida night, metallic with cicadas, musical and dangerous as the human heart.” Lynda Hull from Insect Life of Florida
The highways swish and buzz
hot tires like a one-night-stand
speak dirty to the asphalt
together they cry in an ecstasy of anger
using, being used, knowing this
yet, embracing the night
igniting desire, one
for distance, miles to go before
sleeping
rocking to the clicking of cooling
engines
the other, living only through
those that pass over
used up and forgotten on this
night that
beats
beats
beats
© Jilly’s 2016
Join us over at dVerse, where Walt is tending bar on this the first day of summer!
“Why, it is she that has got all Narnia under her thumb.
It’s she that makes it always winter.
Always winter, and never Christmas; think of that!”
~ C.S. Lewis from The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe
(The Chronicles of Narnia)
Occasionally it is fall Briefly it is spring I know this by the trees Growing along the river Once upon a time I put on coat, hat, boots, gloves Shoveled, swept Drove to the market For sad hot house tomatoes Now upon this time I grab purse, keys Drive to the market for berriesorangespeachesspinachkale And sad hot house tomatoes Always summer, never tomatoes; think of that!
© Jill’s 2016
Hey, Y’all! Stop by dVerse for Open Link Night!
Sea breezes tracking Like coastal scouts Followed by Angry radar lines Brawling where they meet At the front Raging war of hot air Throwing spears Cannon fire In a volley of ire Run for cover Pour the wine Draw the blind Rainy season Arrives © Jilly's 2016
Bjorn is tending bar over at dVerse Poet’s Pub tonight
where we are writing quadrilles that include the word ‘breeze.’
Should be a piece of cake, or a …. 🙂
Join us!
