HARMAR’S POND

A pond can be a truly wondrous place–

Dragonflies on wind, ducks afloat in space.

A frog sounds his bass love call for a mate.

Deep within the bulrushes and cattails

Even water lilies might show up.

For wild ones to have a sip at night,

The water must be crystal-clear sweet

Reflecting the wonders of the sky,

Calming the jangled nerves of men.

But, stay away from Harmar’s black pond.

No duck would come near its dark waters,

Nor will a frog ever sing out here.

Bulrushes, reeds, cattails absent this place

And the sky reflects as winter storms

In water black as the coal it cleans.

I hope nature can someday sweeten it

For ducks’ and dragonflies’ return

And frogs’ gravelly courtship song.

If there are still wild ones coming by,

Perhaps the water will be clear sweet.

I hope some distant kin of mine will know

The pleasure of a wondrous pond.