Pelicans and gulls follow these fishing fleets… br br “Think before you cast br Me into that cerulean sea”, she cried… br br Cardinals build nests in thorny places br Even that slippery black snake br Would know this is not br A place to go br br Alligators climb garden gates br In hopes of br A short cut to lover’s lane br And always searching for a spring date… br br Even that young bear br Suns himself br On the knoll above br My homestead ~ hollow br br Drunken hummers br Feast on br Reddened plastic trumpets br br Winter’s rabbits br Fattened on br Newly planted endive br Give exercise to that coyote br Out in the cedars br br And eagles fly high br Above that mountainous English lady br Riding those currents br Of truth, love and hope br br Surely, you see something of humanitybr br Debora Shortbr br