On why it is necessary to talk kindly to frogs
i met a frog in my garden today
Lurking under a stone – it said
There used to be a pond here
I know i said i had to dig it up
Pity said the frog and looked at me
As if i was the thickest mortal
A garden without water it croaked
Is worse than a tongue without spit
There’s a pond next door i said
You could get there in two short hops
The frog eyed me with green contempt
Next door it said is not where we are
That night there was a full moon
It came and sat on my hedge
There used to be a frog here it said
What have you done to upset it
I hate frogs that talk i complained
Moon eyed me with silver contempt
You can’t treat frogs like that – repent
I beg you or you’ll end up cursed
It tipped backwards off the hedge
And plopped into next door’s pond
Such a cackle of frog’s song then
Moon shone brightly in the water
No frog came back to the stone
Moon stayed away from my garden
So (guiltily) i built a pond –
Something keeps draining the water