frog

Caught between a choice

of cool water

or pine scented air.

When I was six,

A suburban kid

used to neatly cut lawns,

I walked with my older sister

and an adult group

through woods on a 

civilized asphalt path.

Miraculously there was a puddle

and there

my longing for wildlife was fulfilled

by a small brown frog

enjoying his bath.

I squatted by the puddle

and watched 

for so long the group left

but my loyal sister

found our way home.

Years later

with small sons

we’d camp beside a pond.

As we strolled along

there was the plop of leaping frogs

my young sons would hunt

capture one

and then gently release it.

Frog quickly jumped

back into the water

not believing his luck.