Strange News From Florida

The alligators will not stay in the water,
they head for strip malls, for chicken noodle joints
or sports bars for fish taco or spicy wings.
They get their nails done in a Korean salon
paying in Spanish gold.

The two legged; 
the cranes, herons, and humans
edge around the gators.
Occasionally, rowdy boys bounce stones off 
their scaly hides.
The unflappable crocodilians slyly grin 
for they are ecologically moving-in.
Shrewdly, the reptiles are styling 
alligator belts and boots, or sell gator skin handbags 
from wayside stalls and booths.

The Floridians have become inured
to these green interlopers. Some seeing opportunity, 
rent them housings with few tenancy rules
and ‘must have’ pools.
Sadly many furry pets keep going missing;
and not just the Cypress trees are stumped.

It’s a new era, one to be nearer together.
Undocumented or free-range, no longer estranged.
but one shared love for chicken, be it raw, fried 
or grill flamed.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2023

Poem

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Lawless Avatar
April 13, 2023 at 4:26 AM
This bit of tongue in cheek metaphor should be aired on every news station in the country. Nice job.
Ashford Avatar
April 14, 2023 at 5:55 AM
Thank you John, I did have some wry fun writing it!
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