Centennial

Atlantic shores, our Eastern border
Bethel Creek House, refuge for few
Citrus crops, commerce iconic, until the greening, no one knew
Dodgertown Historic Complex: memorabilia, photographs
Eden in winter, Hades in August— slather that sunscreen, no need to ask.
Fellsmere for frog legs, an annual tradition.
Gifford’s Macedonia church, now museum.

Hurricane names, seared as bad memories: Milton and Ian, Jean and Francis
Indian River, our county beloved, named for the waters, our lagoon.
June 29th, 1925, birthday announced, not a minute too soon!
Kayaks seen on a regular basis, locals and tourists, alike.
Lakes, there are plenty, Blue Cypress is one. Care with your dogs: gators bite.
McKee Jungle Gardens, a respite for all, Waldo’s creation, ago; Museum of Art, will also delight, at Riverside, with must-see shows.

Nests of eagles or ospreys, birds of all kind, if seen in the scrubs, behold
Oslo road named for settlers, Norway, home prior, Viking cemetery, off Indrio.
Pocahontas Park is entertainment
Quaint, but not quiet, with children at play
Roseland, a burg, lies next to
Sebastian, near inlet, named for the same.

Turtles arrive each spring on the beaches, laying their eggs, buried in nests
Under the sand, now, please mind the markers. Step wide, lights out, let’s do our best.
Vero Beach may be home, name origin, mysterious
Writers local, and seasonal, debate— at Laura (Riding) Jackson Foundation downtown
Poetry volumes and novels abound; scholarly discourse awaits.

X’ers and Gen Z’s, we used to call ‘young’, gather at Filthy’s or Kilted, for fun

Yeehaw Junction, located near west county line: Desert Inn, Historic, met its demise:
a trucker who ran right through intersection, crashed building, closed business, then demolition.

Zora Neale Hurston, corresponded with Sexton, I hear. Any thoughts when those letters did first appear?

This Abecedarian I hope has been fun:
Enjoy the centennial: there only is one!

—P.M. Draper, 03/01/25