THE POND

Tired of frolic

and the beaming sun,

the snow and ice retreats;

returning the pond nation

to its peaceful co-existence.

Toads once again sit

majestically upon their naked

rock thrones—no lily pads here.

A lone insect glides by

and is slap from the sky

by the welcoming frog’s tongue.

The ducks again cruse

the soothing wet water

dousing heads to catch prey

or douche long neglected feathers.

Suddenly, a rock skips across the pond.

Ducks frantically populate the sky.

As if a magic act of nature,

all other creatures disappear.

In the quietness of this canvassed scene,

ripples concentrically spread across the pond—

Shattered reflected rays, scattered dancing shadows.  

Silently, we drove onward.

Indeed, nature’s mercy

has strange laws.