Ode to the Toad

[Meadow337]

Today I went out
and discovered your corpse
some child picked up
a brick
and bashed your guts out

As I stood and lamented
I remembered
all the times I saw
you in my garden

So this is an ode
to you my toad
may your passing
not be in vain
for I pray
your ghost
would torment
the conscience
of the child
that ended you

 

[Meadow337]

I had a leopard toad in my garden. Today I went out and discovered some child or perhaps adult, although I suspect the children who were here visiting, had picked up a brick and bashed it flat. What fear? What disgusting disregard for other life could prompt this? Is there any rhyme or reason to excuse it? I think not, for even the most primordial fear or ignorance, can make excuse for murder. Killing for the sake of killing. I can not even try to understand, to get inside the mind, to see, to know, to empathise. I am too filled with disgust. Do parents not teach respect? For the child who disregards the life of a fly, a frog, a toad, tomorrow will not respect the life of his or her neighbour, lover, wife or child.

Tonight I weep, to you a mere toad, but to me a friend who was there in the dark when I went for a walk last thing at night, who croaked a summer's serenade and ate the blasted mozzies up.

 

[Polly Parrot]

Not about a toad, but a frog:

'So has Mrs. Leo Hunter, Sir. She dotes on poetry, sir. She
adores it; I may say that her whole soul and mind are wound up,
and entwined with it. She has produced some delightful pieces,
herself, sir. You may have met with her "Ode to an Expiring
Frog," sir.'

'I don't think I have,' said Mr. Pickwick.

'You astonish me, Sir,' said Mr. Leo Hunter. 'It created an
immense sensation. It was signed with an "L" and eight stars, and
appeared originally in a lady's magazine. It commenced--

'"Can I view thee panting, lying
On thy stomach, without sighing;
Can I unmoved see thee dying
On a log
Expiring frog!"'
'Beautiful!' said Mr. Pickwick.

'Fine,' said Mr. Leo Hunter; 'so simple.'

'Very,' said Mr. Pickwick.

'The next verse is still more touching. Shall I repeat it?'

'If you please,' said Mr. Pickwick.

'It runs thus,' said the grave man, still more gravely.

'"Say, have fiends in shape of boys,
With wild halloo, and brutal noise,
Hunted thee from marshy joys,
With a dog,
Expiring frog!"'

'Finely expressed,' said Mr. Pickwick.
'All point, Sir,' said Mr. Leo Hunter; 'but you shall hear
Mrs. Leo Hunter repeat it. She can do justice to it, Sir. She will
repeat it, in character, Sir, to-morrow morning.'

'In character!'

(From Charles Dickens, The Pickwick Papers)

 

[Meadow337]

thank you.

 

[Polly Parrot]

Not that I didn't like your toad poem, it just reminded me of the "Ode to an Expiring Frog".

I like the idea of the toad's ghost haunting its killer.

 

[Meadow337]

I didn't think you didn't like it ... and I liked your quote ... distinctly appropriate. I was just really upset last night hence the short (but appreciative) reply

 

[Polly Parrot]

Aww. Hope you feel better today.

 

[pontalba]

I'm sorry that happened. Human as a species can be pretty nauseating.

Now do you see why I wanted the tiger to eat the kid??

 

[Meadow337]

fortunately people do also have redeeming qualities even if sometimes you have to look really really hard to find them.