Florida: Essays and Poems
by FCIT
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