Long Florida Poems
Long Florida Poems. Below are the most popular long Florida by PoetrySoup Members. You can search for long Florida poems by poem length and keyword.
Rubbing boys shoulders with sunburn oil. The sun smiles at the pain, the brush of fingers against raw flesh. But like a war wound, those boys be proud. Offer them a salve and they scoff, don’t need that stuff. Head back to the beach. Nudge them with a board and a wave, and they take off, up to their knees, casting themselves into the sea. Cheeks and hairlines have enemies, but the boys will wait for the tan that turns them brown, puffed up, back to tell the tales to jealous schoolmates.
They won’t speak of palm trees, nor the hot sand; perhaps they will not even remember what to say, until a prompt. Perhaps they won’t shut up about the knock down, drag out fights with the ebb and flow of riptides.
They might not remember the food that filled their empty bellies, but they enjoyed each bite of burgers at Ford’s Garage in the oldest city in America. I heard from an eyewitness that it has ghosts, the city, not this particular haunt.
Packed like fish, we headed to Florida, having to use one of the back seats for the overflow of things. My oldest grandson had to endure his seat, likened to a ball turret gunner. But this pubescent heartbreaker, though cramped, loved the isolation.
Speed traps, speedy biker, ear-splitting emergency vehicles, pelicans;
and a swift breeze upon a chilly-sunburn covered up with a soft blanket and cozied up to grandma (of course this is the nine year old).
Trip back as the GPS constantly pushed us farther from home, not in miles but in minutes and hours. But the miles moved quicker than a remembered icestorm where I couldn’t get home (only 10 minutes away), so like all long travel, the kids got their first taste, and survived.
So much to say, but signing off…
Wilderness Of Loneliness
Light at the End
As failure yielded tears the will casts evil and the soul mended
gently dissuaded a wounded heart to succumb
Priceless memories ebb for misery like sinking ships submerge
plunging deeper turning probabilities to crumb
Lost amid wilderness of loneliness angels resurface to appease
eager to offer salvation easing tormenting pain
Laden with regret yet undeterred by tainted promises and lies
for time erode trust while hope for love remain
08/19/2020
6:25 p.m.
Woodspring Suites
Lake Worth
Florida USA
From the dixie land of northern Mississippi to Chicago;
From the mid-west metropolis to a central Florida bay;
A mid-size rental served us well; about 4000 miles of service.
We knew that the second leg would take more than just a day.
It was somewhere between Nashville and Atlanta that our
little girl arose from sleep to ask, "Are we there yet?"
That's about the time when we wished that, instead of
driving, we had taken a fast jet. In all of our lives,
there seems to be endless things. The little boy that's only
11 knows that someday he'll turn 18, but when? In the mind
of 11, 7 can be forever. Slowly is the time that passes at
snail-pace. Long is the day that trots along without haste.
There's that 2-laned narrow and winding road that slows me
down and gets me nowhere soon. There's the long night of the
soul when the heart is not bold; you doubt the things you've
been told; and the only light you see is the bright full moon.
091522PS
If the first day is any indication…I can feel it in my heart
2026 is off to a wonderful start.
It began quite beautifully as we awoke…to a sight that makes all lovers swoon.
there in the ebony sky was a waxing gibbous moon.
Her moonlight lit up the clouds stretching far and wide…
just before she smiled, waved then descended down the mountain side.
It has been our tradition in Florida…a treat for our heart and eyes
to watch the sunset over the ocean New Years Eve
then New Years Day go out and watch her rise.
And up in the mountains of North Carolina with the new year about to arrive
we wanted to ensure we kept our New Years tradition alive.
The sunset was easy…all we had to do was open our back door…
but according to Google its 450 miles to the nearest ocean shore…
Deciding against the 7-8 hour drive that it would take
we decided to watch the sunrise 15 minutes away…
in Junaluska over her lake.
So we bundled up and prepared ourselves for the January freeze…
which was smart because the temperature at the lake was 27 degrees.
We waited by the water watching the clouds changing colors
as across the sky they’d snake…
We watched contrails light up the sky as geese swam across the lake.
But when the sun peeked over the mountain…her light both bright and bold
we decided it was worth the wait…standing in the cold.
So our tradition was complete…a treat for our 73 year old eyes
We watched the sunset on 2025 and on the first day of 2026
we watched that same sun rise.
When it was time to head back to our cabin…once we got in the car to go
Stevie Wonder’s ‘I Just Called To Say I Love You’ was playing on the radio.
A sunset, a gibbous moon, a sunrise…and Stevie Wonder ringing in our ears…
Yes, 2026 has all the earmarks to be a wonderful year.
I look outside I don't see snow
I don't see ice on the trees
All I see is palm trees and ocean
As far as my eyes can see
Must've died and gone to heaven
Could explain this feeling euphoric
Or maybe coz I'm lying on a beach
It's utterly phantasmagoric
They say temps are below normal
But this guy ain't feeling no freeze
I'm sure not shivering uncontrollably
No knocking down in my knees
It'll definitely be over way too soon
So I'll enjoy myself while I can
I'll slather myself up with SPF 30
And end up with a gorgeous tan
When I get back to civilization
And show off my sun tanned bod
Ladies will swoon and faint away
To see this adonis-like god!
© Jack Ellison 2013
Wrote this last year while enjoying a vacation in sunny Florida!
In Florida, where old people go to die
With a population of less than one and counting
Where glaciers crawl along the seashore down
Growing cold and counting down the hours
Melting down is very nice and even nicer
When vacationing in Florida
The volcanoes of Florida are world renowned
Standing taller than Olympus Mons on Mars
Some spewing ash and lightning ever faster
By morning life will pass the test of time
Lava flows fill in the desert canyons slow
Miami mountains rise higher than the Rockies
Filling in the missing pieces of a happy sky
At midnight Tsunamis wash away the sands
Landscapes are soon to follow
Twisted storms just like before turn south
Earthquakes keep to themselves but louder
Taking down the house to leave a porch
While rocking on a wooden chair out back
You hear the sounds of crowds or is it birds
While opening a beer you feel the sun come out
One of the treasures of our morning walks…as we slowly walk along
is listening to the birds as they wake up and sing their morning songs.
We love walking together…listening to the birds…it’s a great way for our day to start…
as walking exercises our body while those bird songs soothe our hearts.
Over the years…walking in the different seasons, fall, winter, summer, spring
we’ve come to recognize certain birds by the different songs they sing.
Even though we know their melodies and will never know the words
we smile when we hear the bluejay, the Carolina wren, the cardinal and the mockingbird.
We will never tire of listening…it is a great way for our day to begin…
and springtime here in Florida is when the woodpeckers join in.
We try to find the birds who are singing…because their colors we’d love to see
but most of the birds are shy and sing while hidden in the shelter of their trees.
Every now and then, however, we catch a glimpse of the diva…and we let our a little cheer
it’s a wonderful moment on our walk when our eyes are as happy as our ears.
Yesterday we heard a woodpecker…then followed her sound to a hole up in a tree
where a hungry baby woodpecker peeked out…and was easy for us to see.
She sang a hopeful tune…wondering what mom or dad would bring her to eat.
Would it be nuts or insects this morning…
or perhaps fruits and berries…something sweet.
We hoped she’d get berries as we walked away without saying a word
still listening and blessed to have witnessed the innocence of that baby bird.
And once again we thought of our own children and all the children of the world
those we can and cannot see…
and we said a little prayer that every one of them is as loved and as protected
as that baby woodpecker in the tree.
It’s boxing day (the Brit name for the day after Christmas) and Pamela, Lisa’s grandmother is visiting our little pandemic ark. Pamela’s a Cowboys fan so we’re watching them slaughter Washington - between commercials - but now a Tesla commercial is running. “Those electric cars,” Pamala says dubiously, “seem problematic.”
“You’ve heard of global warming, haven’t you, Pamala?” Leeza says? Leeza addresses everyone (even her grandmother) as if they were her age (12). It’s both seductive and lazy. “This whole system,” she raises her arms to include the apartment, the city and America, “will collapse - we’re DOOOOMED,” she concludes, as if speechifying to an eager crowd.
“Everyone’s heard of climate change,” Pamela says, sipping her eggnog. Pamela is as well informed as any of us and seems rather envious of the future, even the coming awfulness.
“Leeza’s her own theatre,” Her mom says, grimacing indulgently.
Leeza’s full attention was now on the pastry tray - having spotted two small eclairs under the bear claws - she'd lost interest in the conversation and saving the planet.
“The system won’t collapse,” Will says. Will received his early acceptance letter from Harvard the other day and now he knows everything. “We’ll lose Florida, South Carolina and New York,” he pronounces calmly, “so there’ll be some.. migrations.”
“Thank you, professor,” Lisa says, rolling her eyes as if to say ”Harvard people.”
“I think the Covid might get us all - before climate change,” I say, in the spirit of the holiday.
“Well,” Will says, grinning, “that’s what ALL the people at inferior colleges think.”
Leeza, passing by my easychair, curls into my lap like a cat, gently petting my hair. “Don’t be mean to MY friend,” she says, purringly - I was suddenly her possession. Lisa comes out of her chair, a sly smile on her face, to lay crosswise atop Leeza (and me).
“Ugg,” I managed to say, squirming to get comfortable, then “Akkkk.”
Lisa says, “Leave my poor roomie alone!” and starts baby-kissing my head.”
Will starts in our direction like HE’S going to pile on. “Egggg! I shrek, “HELP!”
Pamela whoops with glee as Dallas scores another touchdown.
“Like beating a dead dog with a stick,” she says.
The lake shimmers in the early breeze
Dancing rivulets of light kissed by the rising sun,
Reflecting passing clouds hopscotching with such ease
It heralds a new day just now begun.
Observing its environs with majestic grace
An Ibis meanders daintily along waters’ edge,
Confident in its prowess to outpace
Its curved bill natures’ dancing dredge.
A ripple breaks the perfect glass
A little beak emerges from the deep,
Imbued with curiosity and sass
The snapping turtle juts its head to peep.
All the while majestic palms sway to and fro
Their fronds fanning summers’ air,
From high the watch the mornings’ show
Shielding those below from radiant glare.
A perfect harmony of sights and sounds
It bathes the soul, lightens the heart,
Natures’ beauty truly knows no bounds
Of which we we’re blessed to form a tiny part.
The Naked Ape
Dreamer paddle a transcendental canoe adrift somewhere
Granting immortality dryads require acquiescence abound
Truth unravel illusions urging heart to conquer primal fear
Awareness begs the naked ape to strive for higher ground
Mind senses advanced evolution sculpting surrealistic land
Indisputable claim heralds the exodus of unknown entities
Before the deluge alien artifact found beneath desert sand
Man can erode bias with pragmatic and moral objectivities
04/30/2017
10:08 p.m.
West Palm Beach
Florida USA