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Florida: Essays and Poems

by FCIT

Florida: Essays and Poems

This collection brings together several pieces from the late 1800s and early 1900s about life in Florida.

Source: This book was compiled by the Florida Center for Instructional Technology and includes passages from multiple sources. Please refer to the passage pages for further source information.

About Florida Oranges
The author discusses the beauty of the Florida orange and the pitfalls that plague its prosperity.
Alligator Hunting with Seminoles
An experience of hunting with Seminole Indians in Florida
Billy Bowlegs and the Seminole War
A short biographical sketch of the Seminole chief known as Billy Bowlegs.
Burial Mounds in South Florida
Burial mounds are studied, and mention is made of the historical tales of pirates and the development of the area for tourism.
The Clime of My Birth
The author marvels at the natural beauty of the Florida Landscape.
Cocoanut Grove
The speaker describes the beauty and emotion of Cocoanut Grove.
Evening Song
The author describes a sunset on the coast.
The Everglades
The author describes the charm and allure of the Florida Everglades, including the Indian inhabitants.
First Colonists in Florida
The author describes the first inhabitants of Florida and the gruesome battles.
Florida at Dawn
A poem describing the beauty of Florida at sunrise.
The Florida Beach
The speaker describes and reflects upon the scenery of a Florida beach.
The Florida Pioneers
The speaker looks back over family history, while placing their own struggles in the larger context of American progress.
Florida: A Poem
The speaker describes the state of Florida, a land of beauty, hard work, and promise. It seems a place where the future begins.
Fountain of Youth
The author describes the pursuit of the mythical Fountain of Youth.
From Mandarin to St. Augustine
The author discusses the many wonders of nature that can be witnessed while traveling between Mandarin and St. Augustine, Florida.
From the Flats
The author marvels at the flat nature of his surroundings.
The Grand Tour Up River
The Author gives a detailed description of the vegetation and wildlife that surrounds the St. Johns River.
He Laughed at the Word ‘Impossible’
The story of George S. Gandy’s perseverance and how he turned ridicule into nation-wide praise.
Henry B. Plant — Genius of the West Coast
A profile of Henry B. Plant published in 1925 in a Florida magazine. This profile was the second in a series called "The Ten Greatest Men of Florida," which the magazine described as a reader-requested series on the "men who had done the most toward the progress and development of Florida."
Henry M. Flagler — Empire Builder
A profile of Henry M. Flagler published in 1925 in a Florida magazine. This profile was the first in a series called "The Ten Greatest Men of Florida," which the magazine described as a reader-requested series on the "men who had done the most toward the progress and development of Florida."
The Mockingbird
The author is witness to a mockingbird's supper.
Nooning in Florida
The poet reflects on the world at noon, while laying back and dozing.
Ocala to Tampa by Train
The author describes the route from Ocala to Tampa Bay, focusing on the beauties he sees upon arriving in Tampa.
Orange Buds by Mail from Florida
The author imagines the many miles his orange buds have traveled to go from the Florida sun to snow covered New Jersey.
Orange Song
A poem about the orange tree.
Spanish-American War: The Rough Riders in Tampa
The Rough Riders’ time in Tampa is filled with misunderstandings which they deal with as best they can.
St. Augustine
The Author describes the scenery in St. Augustine, Florida.
Stanzas
The author contemplates the cyclical and temporary nature of life.
Tallahassee
The author describes the city of Tallahassee and the origin of its name and population information.
Tampa Robins
A robin has a meal under an orange-tree.
Thirty Months at the Dry Tortugas
Fort Jefferson and the nearby areas are described including information regarding the natural surroundings, the structure and workings of the fort, and events of historical interest.
Waiting at Live Oak
A poem about waiting for a train at the Live Oak, Florida Junction written in the 1800s.
Yellow Jessamine
The author describes a much revered flower that decorates the landscape of Florida.
  • Year Published: 2012
  • Language: English
  • Country of Origin: United States of America
  • Readability:
    • Flesch–Kincaid Level: 7.4
  • Word Count: 51,807
  • Genre: Informational
  • Keywords: agriculture, bird, construction, death, florida, florida history, gandy bridge, george s. gandy, growth, history, keys, life, military, native, nature, passing of time, port, railroad, rough riders, seeds, spanish-american war, st. petersburg, tampa bay, tampa bay hotel, transportation, travel
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