Crisis of the day
resolved by evening phone call.
Movie with popcorn.
Midnight Scrabble game.
Drowsy, drifting off to sleep,
soothed by pleasant dreams.
Awakening late.
Soulmate snoring beside me,
ticking of the clock.
Cozy under quilt.
Slowly, consciousness returns…
haiku on my mind.
Bright, cheery sunshine.
Birds sing morning melodies,
fly in for breakfast.
Copyright© 2025 by Cheryl Batavia
With vultures, I’d gladly traverse the sky,
surrounding atmosphere so clear, so pure.
Above blue mountains, eagerly I’d fly,
but dining with vultures holds no allure!
Two butterflies take flight on dazzling wings,
in nectared frenzy, sweetly procreate.
Though watching them flying, my spirit sings,
to fly, then die, would be a tragic fate!
With ospreys, I’d fly over seas and streams;
An ocean-view nest is all I could wish.
Their seaside lifestyle haunts my dreams,
but dreams of flight don’t mean I like to fish!
Of course, I could just book an airplane flight.
On second thought, a walk would be just right!
Copyright© 2025 by Cheryl Batavia
Photo of a hurricane by NASA from Unsplash
Monster storm approaching
from the Gulf of Mexico…
Days of rain and wind,
watching hurricane news…
endless models and predictions.
Considering our options,
we decide to shelter in place.
Gusty winds howling
around the corners of our house,
blowing rain against the windows,
dry palm fronds falling.
Darkness descends, storm subsiding.
Power fails;
we go to bed early.
Soothing breezes rustle trees.
Ecstatic the worst is over,
talking, laughing, loving
by the glow of a tiny flashlight.
Lying in bed, holding hands,
enjoying bands of thunderstorms,
last vestiges of the hurricane.
Grateful to be alive,
happy we still have each other.
No TV, no internet, no phones…
Our thoughts turn
to the people northeast of us,
wondering how they fared
in the path of the storm.
Copyright© 2024 by Cheryl Batavia
Epilogue: After the Storm
A week later, our power returned, and we became aware of the devastation in nearby cities and communities. Milton was a major hurricane. Due to storm surge, high winds, and numerous tornadoes spawned by the category 3 storm, people in several states lost their homes, businesses, vehicles, and boats. Roads and other infrastructure are damaged or destroyed. More than a dozen people lost their lives.
Electrical, roofing, and general construction companies, military personnel, and relief workers from many states have come to help those who suffered losses in Hurricane Milton. There are many heroes in our region in 2024!
This poem was written shortly after Hurricane Milton, which hit Florida on October 9th. I was on break, and didn’t post it.
Robert’s sister and daughter visited for three days last week. We wanted to take them to a nearby beach, but beach restoration is still not finished. A tsunami-sized wave had washed sand up on the beach higher than the two-story restaurant where we had lunch. The bulldozers are still leveling sand, and the beach is still closed!
Days growing longer…
Sunrise early, sunset late.
Let’s go for a walk.
Joyful butterflies…
Escapees from snug cocoons,
free to procreate.
Spring breezes, blue sky…
Vultures soaring high above
fragrant palms in bloom.
Ecstatic birdsongs…
Spring’s the time for building nests,
raising families.
Weeds bloom on the lawn…
Colorful table setting,
Honeybee Cafe.
Springtime, warm sunshine,
dragonflies on safari…
Iced tea on the porch.
Copyright© 2025 by Cheryl Batavia
Rain falling softly…
Amorous tree frogs singing,
harbingers of spring.
Contemplate with me
glittering, star-spangled skies…
Wish upon a star.
Cool, dewy grass.
Walking barefoot in the moonlight…
troubles fade away!
A spring favorite!
Color, flower, and fragrance
bear the name,” lilac!”
Copyright© 2025 by Cheryl Batavia
So long, Snow! Bye-bye!
It was great while it lasted…
We had so much fun!
Let’s all play again next year…
Spring’s just around the corner!
Copyright© 2025 by Cheryl Batavia
For many of us, Spring is here!
To our north, new waves of snow storms keep coming. Don’t worry, Spring is just around the corner!
❤️
Image by Susana Cipriano from Pixabay
Sunset afterglow,
crescent moon, evening star,
rosy horizon,
dark-silhouetted palm trees.
Hand-in-hand we stand, transfixed!
Radiant full moon
rises in magnificence
through twisted branches
of an oak in silhouette.
Hand-in-hand we stand, beguiled!
Bright stars and planets
shimmer in enchanted night.
A droning chorus
of cicadas sing love songs.
Hand-in-hand we stand, in awe!
Copyright© 2025 by Cheryl Batavia
Nature’s wonders,
shared with you,
forever enhance my life!
❤️
May you share nature’s wonders
with those you love
all the days of your life!
❤️
Egret. Photo by Trevor John Williams on Unsplash
Love songs on balmy, tranquil nights…
Crooning crickets’ cheerful chirping,
tree frogs’ soothing, silvery songs
commence the symphony of spring.
Oak tassels shed golden pollen.
Cardinal serenades his mate.
Warmer days are growing longer…
What cozy nests the birds create!
Cicadas emerge from slumber,
soon shed their shells, and spread their wings…
Cicadas’ perfect synchrony…
the noisy chorus summer brings!
Pollinating trees and flowers,
yellow butterflies, buzzing bees.
Fledglings, confident in their flight,
feast on ripe acorns and berries.
Now, the days are growing shorter,
chilly when the sun is gone.
Love songs are borne on winter winds.
Lovers greet morning’s rosy dawn.
Copyright© 2025 by Cheryl Batavia
Early Signs of Spring on the SW Gulf Coast of Florida
Last night, on our lanai, I heard the music of crickets and tree frogs. This morning, I saw a live oak tree in bloom, its golden tassels gleaming in the warm sunshine.
Fall arrives around the New Year here, and spring begins in February. Summers are hot and rainy, with temperatures almost never above 95 degrees. From June to October is hurricane season.
Winters are mild and sunny with little rain, and our population swells with “snowbirds,” people who spend the winters here. We generally have a handful of cold days in January, but it doesn’t snow. Most years, it doesn’t freeze.
Photo by Matthew Schwartz from Unsplash
Aloft, I can see
the wide world spread before me.
Aloft, I am free.
Aloft, I can fly
the wide, blue expanse of sky,
watching clouds drift by.
Aloft, I can see
beyond triviality.
Aloft, I am free.
Aloft in sunbeams,
following free-flowing streams,
discovering dreams.
Aloft, I can see
worlds of possibility.
Aloft, I am free.
Copyright© 2024 by Cheryl Batavia
Photo of a gray squirrel by Brad from Unsplash
Photo of a squirrel by Praswin Prokash from Unsplash
Who is top diner at the feeder?
Nobody dares to challenge or quarrel
with this unelected leader;
the king of birdseed is…the squirrel!
Red-bellied woodpecker. Photo by Jack Bulmer from Unsplash
Photo of Eastern blue jay by Matthew Schwartz from Unsplash
Woodpecker with rapier beak
is top bird at the table.
Even aggressive blue jays seldom seek
to resist him… They’re not able!
Mourning Doves. Photo by Stephan Gogov from Unsplash
Doves in pairs feed side-by-side…
Woodpeckers and jays are intimidated!
For doves in teams, they stand aside…
teamwork to be emulated!
Photo of cardinal by Stephen Walker from Unsplash
Cardinals, bright, spritely little creatures,
take everything in stride.
They’re much more than their flashy features…
They model confidence and pride.
Tufted Titmouse. Photo by Jack Bulmer from Unsplash
Tiny titmice hang out on the ground
as diners scatter seeds on the lawn,
eating leftovers they have found,
visiting feeders when bullies are gone.
Photo of grey catbird by Jack Bulmer from Unsplash
Photo of brown thrasher by Joshua J. Cotten from Unsplash
Catbirds and brown thrashers
visit feeders sporadically.
All birds flee these party crashers
who disrupt community hierarchy!
Photo by J. A. Uppendahl from Unsplash
Photo of rabbit by Andrew Coop from Unsplash
Raw peanuts scattered on the ground
attract everyone, even rats and rabbits.
Squirrel visits to feeders slow down…
a pause in squirrels’ pushy habits!
Squirrel eating a peanut. Photo by Ms. Uppy from Unsplash
Hope you enjoyed this overview
of backyard politics and pecking rights.
Feeders bring animals close to you…
Proximity provides fresh insights!
Copyright© 2024 by Cheryl Batavia
Note to Prospective Bird Feeder Owners:
Bird feeders are outlawed in California. Signs in many places say, “Danger! Do Not Feed the Bears!” or “Unlawful to Feed Wildlife Here” or “Don’t Feed the Alligators!” There are good reasons for such warnings. Feeding some wild animals can cause them to lose their fear of people and become aggressive and dangerous. Feeding some wild animals can make them dependent on humans and less able to survive on their own.
In our neighborhood, lots are being cleared for new construction, and animal habitats are disappearing at a fairly rapid rate. Endangered gopher tortoises in our neighborhood have been displaced, losing their homes when a new house was built on the site of their ancestral burrows.
Gopher tortoise at burrow. Photo in the public domain, origin unknown
We often see gopher tortoises eating grass in our yard and believe they may have dug new burrows in the wooded lot behind our house. The underground network of gopher tortoise burrows is routinely used by a variety of animals, so the impact of losing these safe passages is not limited to the tortoises who dug the burrows.
A new house was recently built diagonally behind us. I think some of the birds and animals we are seeing at the bird feeders once made their homes on the site of the new house.
I don’t know whether I am doing the right thing putting up bird feeders. I hope it is the right thing. I rationalize that the animals are still fending for themselves from when the feeders are empty in the late afternoon until I fill them again around 7:30 in the morning.
If I am ever able to do so, I will purchase the wooded lots beside us and behind us to preserve a bit of animal habitat.
When considering whether or not to feed wild animals, I believe we must follow the laws, and then let conscience be our guide.
Visit Joanna’s beautiful and informative website, naturetails.blog
💚
Raccoons are mostly nocturnal, but nursing females also feed during the day in order to provide their babies adequate milk. My daughter, Katey Batavia, took these photos of Mama Raccoon eating peanuts under our bird feeder in broad daylight.
Although raccoons are delightful to watch, we don’t seek to feed raccoons; they can carry rabies and have an annoying habit of raiding garbage cans and scattering garbage. Our garbage cans are secured with bungee cords.
But how can you begrudge a hungry mama and her babies a few peanuts under the bird feeder?
Gulf Coast Poet 