The Frog

I met a frog one day, on a pond far away from home
As it sat with bulging eyes upon a weathered stone
And though its clammy skin could make one touching it start
It could not hide the warmth of its reptile heart.

So we spoke for while about all sorts of things
Flies and tadpoles and everything in between
"I dream of the lake beyond this pond" it says to me
"And the time I no longer want to be free"

Which to me despite the speaker stood to reason
As even men bow inevitably to the seasons
And though the conversation was between frog and man
The words we spoke were easy to understand.

It nods it head and gives a knowing smile
When I tell it that even men must be alone from time to time
Like frogs when they sing at night from where you cannot tell
So must man seek solitude to be just himself

But man and frog have no business other than to chat
And even that I was truly doubtful at
So we bid our goodbyes this frog that I now esteem
Me off to my fate and it to its reptilian dreams.

One day perhaps when all wishes are granted
I'll find it in the middle of a lake wizened and enlightened
And if we still speak the same words and know what they truly mean
We can talk of tadpoles, flies and everything in between.

CG - written sometime in 2008 Jolo/Sulu