Virginia and Florida

 Vermin retreat back into their dark cave,

fearing the sun,

unable to comprehend its greatness,

and I am reminded of when the English and Spanish

were bedazzled by tales of gold and jewels,

in Virginia and Florida,

or how it can be said that ignorance is like living without light,

This is why I wanted to flip through 

the codices of your mind

and decipher your glyphs,

but you could not stand to hear us praise you,

your fellow scholars, lagging far behind,

desired the warmth of your flame,

our love may be fool's gold and wilted flowers to you but,

we never give gifts expecting something back,

 

and we remember your every word,

cherishing the portraits you made,

as if they had souls and flesh