(reprinted from CCB 2016 15(2):293)
From the beginning, the images flow,
of your passion for turtles, your desire to know,
delving and digging, defining, discovering,
describing the details—and turtles promoting.
From Britain to America, from the cold to the warmth,
you left your home country for Florida's shores,
the first book you published, Living Turtles of the World,
promoted your knowledge—your passions unfurled.
Sharing your knowledge with students and colleagues
among them, myself, inspired by your guidance,
mentored and guided by a colleague, a friend,
the diversity of turtles I began to comprehend.
From your home in Oviedo, your work flourished widely,
the Encyclopedia of Turtles, and saving Kemp's Ridley,
writing and traveling, popularizing and promoting—
Alligator Snappers, Leatherbacks, Galápagos tortoises—
and Rafetus softshells, their tragic decline describing.
Your museum and Chelonian Research Institute created,
and named Florida's Man of the Year, honor abounded,
then the Behler Award, further lauded in your sphere,
in resounding acclamation by your chelonian peers.
But the passage of time unfolds, unrelenting, unforgiving,
impacting our age, and our years ever mounting;
but time is our friend, not our foe—
each day is a gift, not a woe—
may our time and days continue to grow.
Now, as always, the images flow,
of your passion for turtles, your desire to know,
delving and digging, defining, discovering,
describing the details—and turtles promoting.
Thank you, Peter—Mr. Turtle—my friend,
for all you have done and all you have been—
a mentor, a colleague, a guide—
and always—a friend.
© 2020 Chelonian Research Foundation
2020
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