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I Wish I Weren'T a Frog

I WISH I WEREN’T A FROG
by
JOHN M. ARRIBAS



I wish I were a frog sunning myself on a lily pad
No cares or worries to drive me mad or sad
I’ll  play it cool, wait for insects out on the fly
A plump worm, two mosquitoes are my kind of pie
I need the sun to be on schedule each n every day
I gotta find warmth, and for me, it’s the only way

Sitting on a lily pad in a tranquil pond sounds fine
But here in Florida, your existence is always on the line
Carnivores are under every leaf, behind each palm
In jungles we’d be warned as howlers screech alarm
We don’t have warnings of lethal impending threats
Owners come to cast off their loved carnivorous pets

I sense being stalked now by sneaky ole alligator
He’s not looking now but he’ll inch closer, later
He’s trying to ambush me pretending he’s asleep
He’s been at this for days but my distance I keep
I wile away time  til the location is just right
I jump on his eyes and carom quickly out of sight 

He’s not too quick on the uptake, actually slow
He’s focused on me for a meal; and doesn’t know
There’s a large constrictor taking his measure
Swallowing him whole would be a savory treasure
I’ve got to be vigilant, keep alert system on high
Swallowed from below or scooped up from on sky


And then there’s the so called breeding season
Missy shows up lays thousands of eggs and done
All arrive at the same time flooding the place
Attracting voracious eaters at a phenomenal pace
I honker down n  lay low til the action gets still
Making sure these gluttons have had their fill

Frog (2)



Were I in the amazon I’d turn a bright yellow
A red flag to the savvy that I’m a poisonous fellow
There’s always a dummy not sure what colors tout
He’ll take a bite, I’ll exude, he’ll quickly spit me out
I don’t get that edge here in the Florida everglades
This place becomes a banquet site as the sun fades


I’d be a frog up north where the seasons change
It’s so much safer there, I’d extend my range
Sunning myself all summer, find soft mud in the fall
Hibernate, lose some weight, wait for spring to call
But I’m here in Florida where eating lasts all year
Due to all these frog consumers, so much more to fear


Caught a movement flashing in the corner of  my eye
It’s a big fat caterpillar, just the kind I’d like to try
He’s quite a distance away, I’ll need to spring real high
Oops, I made a big mistake never saw the hawk fly by. Bye

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