I watched her chase down a frog
The other evening
Fingers lunging forward
Grasping and groping gently at the
Clammy mass of flesh
Struggling to escape this laughing,
sun-kissed
straw-haired
creature holding it so tenderly
marveling at the life that beats
inside her hand
I saw her then as I knew her
Free from pretension
Bearing no burden but eager
Curious youth
That which burns so brightly for
So short a time
As she loosened her grip
The toad hopped free
I saw him carry away a piece
Of my daughter’s childhood
For that is how it will vanish
One frog at a time
4-13-15
©2019 Lenny Wells
Thoughts From The Orchard 