have you ever seen this river?
The St. John’s River rolls! And with each tide that comes and goes, history unfolds.
Look around.
There are Possums, Gators and Birds with long beaks, insects, fish and crabs that creep.
There are Raccoons that ramble in coves and creeks.
Take a closer look at this river.
Hammocks of oak, palm trees and pine; Saw grass marshes that are cypress lined;
Osprey, Pelicans and Gulls fly high; While the Manatee swim, majestically by.
Have you ever seen the St. Johns River?
Florida’s natives hunted, danced and fished here;
On the riverbanks homes they would make;
And on moon lit nights when stars shine bright…
You can still hear the timacuan say:
"Welaka"…."Welaka"…..(river of many lakes).
The St. Johns River!
Have you ever seen a river so mighty?
With its dark secrets so lightly sealed?
…That with each tide gleaning the bottom sands…
History is revealed?
First the Spanish gazed into the future….But before a firm foothold they could make…
The French arrived and built a Fort….So a lands claim they could stake.
At the command of a king named George, The English left their mark.
Botanist John Bartram studied plant life that grew in the St Johns River marsh.
Spanish, French, English, African and American blood was shed here.
And one day the river would tell…
The story of The War Between the States…..
Of Yankee shouts and Rebel yells!!
Hidden somewhere in the muck and the mire……
Somewhere in the mud, the dirt and the clay…….
Are the countless stories of blood, sweat and tears that were shed here…all along the river’s way.
- by BEN FRAZIER
