I identify

I identify

johnclarestokes 

I identify as a clear

sunny day

Can’t you just see

Infinity in the 

Brilliant blue

Don’t you just love

You can count every

Leaf in fine detail

Yes

I identify as a

clear, clear sunny day

Why, isn’t that the

Correct way?

My exitstence

The paths of my least existence

Johnclarestokes 

Often fraught with least resistance 

Taking the least distance

Swayed by the least insistence 

To the least acquiescence

Florida Trail

Ocean Pond

One

 Once upon a time

When sometimes the way and I are one

When all surrounding joins in the journey

We momentarily pause in mid go

As even the river ceases her flow

The guardians

 The guardians of the angels

On Jordon’s stormy banks

 Jordon

Today has come

The birthday of our son

So thankful there is one

With adventures yet to run

Yes we love our 

Stormy bank Son!

Jordon Stokes

Big Shoals

Steichen

 Steichen

On my wall hang two Steichen’s

You say, o my, of the great Edward?

I say no

Of the late Karen

All colored in markers 

Within the lines

Worthless by all estimates 

Priceless by one 

Recipient

Who thought enough of him 

A spot of bother

 A spot of bother

Johnclarestokes 

I do not have the latest Lincoln, but I ain't gonna let that bother me. My tag is so expired, I lost it, but that’s no bother. My camellia's grow too far to pick above me, but that don't bother me. My bricks don't quite match, but it doesn't bother me. My roof only leaks when it rains, and thats not a bother. My yards all weeds, the mower was stolen, but why bother? You could have it as good as I do, but i ain't gonna bother you with that.

Just don’t want to be a bother.

John Sauls

 John J

Johnclarestokes 

John J Sauls migrated to Alachua County  from Orangeburg, South Carolina where he married Mary Jane Robinson. Born in 1825(1840  by other accounts),  John left his farm in Alachua County and enlisted in Brooksville, Hernando County as a  4th sergeant in Company C(Hernando Guards)(Wildcats) of the 3rd Florida Infanty on July 19, 1861. He was promoted to a full private in May 1862(reduced to ranks)  then furloughed to Hernando County and died of disease on Feb 3, 1863 in a Lake City hospital where he was buried in Oaklawn Cemetery. His wife Mary applied for a widows pension in 1903. His is one of the few marked headstones of many unknown  CSA markers.

Geech Brown

 In search of Geech

Today I traveled over to Olustee, through the thick smoke

along the back way via Gum Swamp, past Ocean Pond, turning off US90 to Possom Trot lane. I was in search of the old shanty where Geech Brown once lived in the 1980's. In the late 80's, I was sent as a freelance photographer for the Tallahassee Democrat to take a photograph of Mr Brown. A pulpwood and railroad laborer, his claim to fame was his being the oldest person still working in Florida, then in his late 80's. I found him lounging on his porch and at first he would not allow me to photograph him, saying he never got anything out of it, all these people coming around. I finally said, would $5 do? With that he became a willing subject, even cracking a wry smile for me. I will journey over again when it warms up and more people are out and about and inquire where the old home stood and where he is buried, I assume.

Railroad Street

 Those icehouse blues

Railroad street

Lake City

Now paved over

Rossi Rains

 Rossi rains

Johnclarestokes 

The ditches soon became swift streams making their way downhill to the Price Creek which in turn sent the waters to Alligator Lake which in turn with its dry falls sinks and Rose creeks eventually meandered its way toward Itchetucknee who sent the Rossi rains on to the Santa Fe who in time offered them to Suwannee who never satiated in its flow finally gave an account of its work to the Gulf.

Long haul

 in the jv days of old, no one could catch forty, taking the pitch out from Fred Doerr, with the blocking of Bill,Jack and Monte Whitehurst and the fake up the line by fullback Johnny Henry, by the time they figured it all out, 40 was long,long gone for another long haul....