Glen Of The Glades Poem by Liilia Talts Morrison

I read about a man today
Who rambled ancient glades and bays
In Florida’s forgotten days
When Indian mounds and gator holes
Were teeming wild and rich with life

I read about a man today
Scarred from a life in hardship’s fray
Of skeeter welts deep blade grass cuts
And hellish men with high-blown struts
Defacing lands with prideful plots

I read about a man today
Who watched bold speculators craze
Corrupt time honored lowly ways
Treading on secret treasured stays
Of nature in its golden days

I read about a man today
Who wept as progress took its sway
Canals and roads soon pierced the breast
Cremating what was bright and best
Of his beloved Everglades

I read about a man today
Who saw Cape Sable turn to gray
Still dreaming of those times of yore
When shells and cowries shone so white
Below blue herons splendid flight

I read about a man today
His eyes now dimmed by clouds of age
Who poled for grits by hunting hides
Saw marsh and blue expanse of sky
Soon fill with air boats and blow flies

I read about a man today
He’s way too old to even try
To bring back what’s now dead and dry
But wonders if just one soul cares
That wildlife burned in rich men’s snares

I read about a man today
Who stopped his scribbles on the page
Still hearing key deer haunting bleats
Small critters snuffing out in peat
Tread down my rangers careless feet

God bless that man his name is Glen
I may not see him e’er again
One thing’s for sure I’m glad we met
My life is brighter just to know
Someone somewhere still cares somehow.