Red Reef Park Poem by Kay Bressner

Beside the gumbo limbo trees' red bark,
there flourishes a fabulous butterfly garden

Where the pigeon plum grows; I've never
seen so many fluttering in one location

Butterflies are attracted here by brilliant flowers of coral bean,
orange lantana, scarlet milkweed and pink penta stars.


As the soft ground of the trail winds around,
the tiniest white sand beach appears, on a quiet inlet.

I slip the sandals off my feet and wade into
the clear cool water to see what I may discover.

I want spend the entire rest of my life in this small place;
sleep beneath the thatched roof of the picnic shelter

But after filling my pockets with diminutive shells,
I continue on the trail with sandy footsteps.

I can't bear to miss the pools where the spiny lobster
lives; sting rays and sea turtles swim.

I won't leave without the scent of lemon grass on my skin.