It’s Friday! And you know what that means: Poetry! Want to know more about Poetry Friday? Click this link right here. And be sure to check out A Journey Through the Pages to see this week’s round up of wonderful poetry related posts, blogs and goodness.
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I am giving away a signed copy of Rodzilla, written by Rob Sanders and illustrated by Dan Santat. Enter here!
Like so many others, I am speechless, baffled and horrified by all the hate in the world. I’ve tried to wrap my head around it and I just can’t. Hatred is so insidious and vile and it has been left to fester for so long. How can I even begin to make a difference as an individual?
While pondering all this, something that my daughter said a few months back came to my mind. I wrote a longer post about the encounter, which you can read here, but what she told me just blew me away. She said “love is stronger than strong.” And it is. How do we combat hate? By opening our hearts and showing more empathy and compassion. It certainly is a start.
Now on to something a little more lighthearted. For those wondering, my daughter’s and my pedicures went fabulously. She, of course, got sparkly pink toes, while I’m now sporting dark purple on my digits.
This week I drew some inspiration from a not-so-little reptile friend. As an aside: did you know that alligators are more closely related to birds than to other lizards? Crazy!
Anyway, there is a golf course near our house where I often see an alligator basking in the sun. He just plops himself down and relaxes. It got me to thinking about summer days and how animals spend their free time. So I came up with this little poem.
Sunbathing
He lumbers
Over the weedy bank,
Dragging his scaly belly
through cool mud.
Summer rays
Warm his armored back
While egrets and herons
Fish nearby.
One quick CHOMP!
Is all it would take.
But even old gators
Need lazy days.
Sloth Reads 
Thank you, Rebecca, for offering this Florida-style poem for my summer gallery, Sunkissed Summer. It was so much fun to open Twitter and find it waiting for me. I enjoyed reading it so much that I sent it out via Twitter immediately.
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ha ha! I love it…it's so hot here….my belly might like a drag through some cool mud too.
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Ha–the ending of your poem made me laugh (and I expected an actual chomp!)
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I'm glad you enjoyed it. It was really fun to write.
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I know exactly what you mean!
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I'm glad it made you laugh. Thanks for visiting!
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How nice to meet an indifferent alligator. I can't imagine running into one in everyday life. I love how everyone's normal is so different. I also love your poem. It's very tactile, as is the photo!
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Great twist. Such a fun poem.
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Everybody needs a day off now and then! Ooh, I just thought of a fun picture book connection to your poem! You must get Professional Crocodile by Giovanna Zoboli and tell me what you think!
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What a fun poem to remind us to enjoy these lazy days of summer. I would love to watch one, but not too close.
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Growing up in Orlando, gators were the only critters that I was particularly afraid of… I think because they could get you on land or in water! We've got them here in the lowcountry, of course, too. Always glad if they are enjoying an afternoon siesta rather than a meal, when close to us humans and our dogs and such… ;0) Terrific poem!
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It's pretty crazy what you get used to. We have a pond/reservoir about 75 steps from our townhome (in the middle of the city–not out in the boonies). There was a baby gator there, which probably means a big mama too.
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thank you!
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Thanks for the suggestion! I now have it on hold at the library. 🙂
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There's a state park near us that is a very popular kayaking/boating area. Kayaking down the river, you could easily reach out and touch them as they slowly swim by. A little unnerving!
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I didn't worry about them too much growing up, but now that I have little ones, I pay attention a bit more now. Thanks for stopping by!
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Fun poem Rebecca, and your last stanza is wonderful thanks!
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LOL Great ending to a lazy poem. Maybe the old guy had a full belly. I also am sad about the hate in the world. Police attacking protestors in Phoenix won't help.
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