Within The Swamp, Rondeau Options

[Larry]

Within the swamp are brackish pools
where gators wait for food and fools
from towns and cities far away.
Sometimes they stumble in to stay
and ripen where the gator drools

but that’s not taught in any schools.
With knowledge and the proper tools
some folks can work or live and play
within the swamp.

My friend gets rich. He and his mules
go out to where bald cypress rules
and finds old sunken logs which pay
their weight in gold. Without decay
these fallen giants are nature’s jewels
within the swamp.


Here it is Daniel, comment or crit at your leisure!

Larry

[Larry]

Hi Ali,

Thanks for popping in for a read. Let me explain the part of my poem with which caused you confusion. Cypress doesn't rot! Cypress logs can stay underwater for decades without deteriorating and their value in board-feet makes it seem you are paying for gold when the lumber derived from the logs is used for flooring or to build a home. I would guess it is similar to African iron wood in that it resists most forms of degradation and pest infestation. Some people even buy old (100 years+) houses and carefully remove all the cypress that was used to build them and actually turn a tidy profit over and above what they paid for the home and they still retain the acreage purchased at the same time.

Petrified wood, from what I understand, has been inundated with soil or sand granules to the extent they are like long rocks with a wood grain. They would be difficult to saw into any kind of building material but when polished, make beautiful jewelry. The state should use the millions of shards of petrified wood as a cash cow. I bet they could rake in a lot of money in sales licensing fees and the petrified wood proceeds could be used for infrastructure, schools, etc.

Anyway, glad you stopped in and enjoyed.

Larry

[Ali zonak]

Hi Ali,

Thanks for popping in for a read. Let me explain the part of my poem with which caused you confusion. Cypress doesn't rot! Cypress logs can stay underwater for decades without deteriorating and their value in board-feet makes it seem you are paying for gold when the lumber derived from the logs is used for flooring or to build a home. I would guess it is similar to African iron wood in that it resists most forms of degradation and pest infestation. Some people even buy old (100 years+) houses and carefully remove all the cypress that was used to build them and actually turn a tidy profit over and above what they paid for the home and they still retain the acreage purchased at the same time.

Petrified wood, from what I understand, has been inundated with soil or sand granules to the extent they are like long rocks with a wood grain. They would be difficult to saw into any kind of building material but when polished, make beautiful jewelry. The state should use the millions of shards of petrified wood as a cash cow. I bet they could rake in a lot of money in sales licensing fees and the petrified wood proceeds could be used for infrastructure, schools, etc.

Anyway, glad you stopped in and enjoyed.

Larry

Hi Larry;
interesting about the cypress’ ability to withstand decay under water. Reminds me of recovered oaken Viking ships that had been underwater for centuries, nearly unaffected by water and brine. Of course, I know that your phrase “Which pay their weight in gold” is metaphorical—a figure of speech. For the sake of discussion, or fun, let’s say a recovered cypress trunk weighs one short-ton or 29,166 troy oz, the common measure of gold. The current price of gold is roughly $1,213 per oz. Multiply that by 29,166 troy oz, the weight of one cypress, and keep on fishing for more logs--never mind those gators, lol. Your log is worth $35,378,358 before taxes.

Btw, visitors to the Petrified Forest are forbidden to pick up even small chips, yet you can buy petrified gift items; it seems park management holds a monopoly on it. I remember a park entrance ranger asking me, "Did you bring any petrified wood into this park? My answer: NO. His reply was: Then make sure you don't take any out. Ali