| Aligators, snakes, mosquitos, and swamps was all I knew |
|
I had not yet awakened
|
| My eyes had not yet opened to the truth and beauty |
| They were shut by Hollywood
|
| The Golden Orb Weaver had not yet spun before my eyes |
|
It's intricate pattern had not yet trapped
|
| The operculum had not yet welcomed me to its home |
| The apple snail had not come up
for air
|
| I never looked |
| I never saw
|
| Never understood the majestic confidence of the red-shouldered hawk |
| Preying as if a skillful knight
|
| The finicky Snail Kite had not yet ordered up his meal |
| Escargot to go please!
|
| Never stopped to feel the peeling bark of the Gumbo Limbo |
| Always reminding us to wear sunscreen
|
| I never saw |
| I never looked
|
| I'd never seen the saw grass tickle the sun |
| Or the sun bathing in the mangroves
|
| Never imagined the Anhinga's precision and dexterity |
| Spearing it's prey from above
|
| Never felt the earth embrace my feet crying for help |
| Asking why do we do the things we do
|
| My eyes have only now begun to open |
| Though I feel I have missed so much |