Several manatees have recently been seen frequenting the waters around Scipio Creek and Ten Foot Hole, so use extreme caution when boating in these areas. This may be due in part to the drop in human activity caused by the Corona virus, part of a worldwide trend. More manatee information can be found on the FWC website.
In honor of the manatee, our anonymous poet shares another outstanding poem with us. Enjoy!
Manatee, Scipio Marsh
Floating like a parade balloon
In a midnight sky
Among swamp-waters
As motionless as a winter moon;
Its half-ton vastness
And softly-imperfect form
In wrinkles and rolls
And fat-tire bulges
As comical and corpulent
As a laughing Buddha’s belly
With face of sagging whiskers
And faultless eyes
Of the Christmas puppy
Returned to the shelter.
    *       *      *
Ascending from the hungry deep,
Of fine-toothed fishes,
Fanged crocodilians and serpents
That churn and tumble about
Its blithe passivity,
It engulfs a deep life-breath
For return descent
To vague darkness,
Drifting
As in a shaman’s trance.