Big Frogs Croak

Big Frogs Croak

Big frogs croak

In the pond

At night

Deep deep sounds

Come from their throats

I wonder why they do that

I wonder who they are calling

Walking the dog

Past the pond

The sounds startle her

And she pulls the leash

And growls

I shush her

And tell her not to worry

And pull her leash gently towards me

The big frogs croak again

And again I wonder what they are doing

And who they are calling

And do they know it’s almost summer?

And do they know that school is almost out?

And did the know the turtle

Who laid her eggs in our yard?

And do they know the swans

and the geese?

How about the bunnies and groundhogs

And squirrels and chipmunks?

Do they know those wild coyotes who

come around and scamper in the yards?

Do they know the big racoon who comes

around when food is accidentally left

outside?

Do they know that before the big highway was built

That the pond was a lake?

And did their great great grandfrogs

Ever swim beside the children

Back when they could swim there?

Did they remember the beach?

Did they remember the big bandstand and

the pavilion?

How about the weekend dances and

holiday cookouts?

Is that why they are croaking at night?

To call the children back into the pond

so they could watch them swim?

Do the frogs miss the children?

The children miss the pond

Does the noise from the highway bother them?

Or do they sort of get used to it like we do?

Or is it quieter now for them without the

kids and families playing in their habitat?

Is it more peaceful for the frogs and

swans and geese and turtles now that the

big highway has been built?

Is that why they croak?

Is it a joyous croak?

Is it unrelated?

Do they even know about the big highway?

Or was that too many froggy generations ago,

to remember before the big highway?

The pond is peaceful at night.

It would be very crowded on a warm night

late in spring if people could still swim there.

I wouldn’t be able to hear the croaks

through all that noise.

I don’t think the frogs know that I think about them.