For
all good Floridians, east and west, their honesty, forthright and generous
manners, their steadfastness throughout the trials and tribulations in history
and political change, fortitude and perseverance amidst inclement and
inconstant seasons, but mostly for bearing with great dignity that essential
repose and attitude of fair outlook which shines as an example of true
character and nobility.
A hue of tropic
harmony whispers sweet ‘cross an azure sky,
Dawn’s fair flame of
time sweeps the shores in gilded sigh,
Perfumed paschal
flower first caught and blessed in Spanish eye.
In search of youthful
fountains, virgin sands claimed by foreign ships…
The Martyr Charles to
French Louisiana, Paris’ peace settled the lands,
Pure Pensacola’s
Indian crown, with King George and Britain stands,
Flowing rivers roar
from East to West, maps redrawn by distant hands.
Opulent groves of
orange fruits, revolution rises in crisis and rips…
Walls rebuilt by
independent folk, a bright star rises to guide the strong,
Seventy days of sweet
liberty, then General Jackson’s battle song
Good souls sued for
victory, fertile fields bought in treaty; right or wrong?
Seasons change,
thunder then sun in turn, tempests of birth, life to death slips…
The lightening strike
of civil war; and enrolled into the Confederate cause,
A peaceful land in
savage shots, Lincoln’s cause for slaves deals blows,
Yet bearing the
truth, considerate, in the end a rose from thorns she grows.
Never a land
forgotten, constant beauty forever fragrant on men’s lips.
All
Rights Reserved: David John Drew/Versificator Regis/DBWF 2008
Image: General
James Grant of Ballindalloch (1720-1806) an interesting and colorful figure. He
enjoyed a distinguished career in the British Army – serving much of his time
in American. He was a young major in the French and Indian War (1758), led an
expedition against the Cherokees in North Carolina (1761), served as Governor
of East Florida (1763-1771) and was promoted to Major General during the
American War of Independence. General Grant was a noted bon vivant and always traveled
with his own personal chef and a generous cache of fine wines and brandy. After
retiring from the army with the rank of General, he served as a Member of
Parliament. King George III presented General Grant with life-sized portraits
of the King, and Queen Charlotte, by the famous painter Allan Ramsay. Those
paintings still adorn the walls of the dining hall at Ballindalloch Castle.
