Plop.
"Well, hello! Who are you?
"I am a mighty tree frog and I have just attacked the sleeve of your flannel shirt."
"With what intent?"
"I intend to eat you up!"
"So how do you intend to go about that?"
"Admittedly, it will take a while."
"You are not a fish."
"I had gills."
"You also had instinctual instructions. "
"Yes, I am to launch myself toward protein, go Plop, then eat what I have overpowered and caught."
"I'm impressed by your determination, but although honored to be overpowered by you I must yield to an ant-trail I just passed at the garden edge. I'll be glad to walk you over there..."
"Don't trouble, I'll just launch myself. Bye!"
Five feet away, I heard a very faint Plop. We are all stewards of our planet.
We are indeed stewards of our planet. And some of us need remedial lessons.
ReplyDeleteThe little creatures are eager to remind us,EC, but as you know, we have to listen.
DeleteA truly delightful post. And I heartily endorse the previous comment.
ReplyDeleteThanks Tom. EC is a truly sensitive Earthling, fluent in the language of nature.
DeleteI don't believe I've ever met a tree frog in person....they are soooo tiny and cute. I could use a few in our yard to eat ants....or an anteater...
ReplyDeleteYou may yet meet a tree frog, Delores. They are ubiquitous and, between February and June, spawn in still waters here.
DeleteSo cute.
ReplyDeleteDuring rainy summers, we have toads lay big globby lines of eggs, which hatch and change, along the edges of the road in my neighborhood. Most don't make it because the water evaporates, but it's always great to watch the changes in the ones that do!
Harry, love toads too. I spent my 1st 9 years slong the Sacramento River and happily dug horizontal holes in the banks while adults fished. I'd return later and find toads colonizing the caves an armlength in. The grammar of nature is learned this way.
DeleteYep, all stewards, though some do a better job than others.
ReplyDeleteDear Susan, I suspect it's one of those rare jobs that never stops getting better.
DeleteI am disappointed that he didn't tell you his name. At any rate he is a cutie.
ReplyDeleteDear Emma, we have to supply names --their little brains are full of survival instincts, so it's our job. His name is Plop.
DeleteA cute visitor to your plaid. So very thoughtful of mother nature to arrange the visit so close to an ant trail. She provides and we abide. The wonder of it all...
ReplyDeleteIndeed, Tom, you remind me: I must never lose the wonder, not ever.
DeleteSome of nature's greatest delights come in surprisingly small sizes.
ReplyDeleteJon, I suspect delight is one of those quantum emotions that has no sidereal reference to time and space --like love. Plop is a beautiful creature, and though I've encountered him only once, I know he'll do well on his learning journey.
DeleteI don't think I've ever seen a tree frog though I have heard their calls. It reminds me of the poem by Gelett Burgess (though I would have thought Ogden Nash was the author): "I never saw a purple cow, I never hope to see one, But I can tell you, anyhow, I'd rather see than be one!"
ReplyDeleteDefinitely from Burgess, Bruce. Although my only volume of his is "The Heart Line (a drama of San Francisco)"--October 1907, Bobbs Merrill Co.-- (yes, a 1st edition!), I have often mentally bounced that cow quote between him and Nash. He was a remarkable writer who understood his time.
DeleteSuch a delightful little mite! Frogs sure can jump a long way. Imagine if we could do that. We wouldn't need cars. It would revolutionize the transportation industry!
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't mind being 1/4 inch long --I mean, if everybody else agreed to do it too. Otherwise landings and collisions would be more splat than plop. And our president would be negotiating with hungry birds, if he isn't already.
DeleteI 💗 this post and so enjoy it when things go plop.
ReplyDeleteAfter being on pain meds, I 💗 the same thing.
DeleteYesterday I disturbed a ground dwelling frog, it was nearly three inches in length - it seems I had a lucky escape! I think it was all ready in pursuit of slug protein (not my favourite, but potentially a frog superfood) as it did not think to attack me. Plop is a perfect frog name, I can't improve on it. Maybe I shall call mine Plopette?
ReplyDeletePS: Still sending good wishes for recovery.
Dear Lisa, Glad you didn't step on Plopette. I like her name! It has an exotic ring..er plop to it that should further her socially. Bullfrogs love to share romantic slug dinners with girls named Plopette.
DeleteI didn't know tree frogs were partial to shirts. I have never seen one !
ReplyDeleteI think they sense living prey through a sort of infra-red vision, which causes them to pounce on moving heat-sources. Usually they drop onto my head or shoulder from above, but this tiny fellow tackled me from a nearby bench.
DeleteWhat a cute little frog; but even better is you sound like your old self! I'm hoping you are mending well. I keep looking for frogs or pollywogs in the three ponds in our open space along Piney Creek, but no luck so far. Hundreds and hundreds of minnows though. I enjoy Norma's photos so much. Take care, my friend!
ReplyDeleteMending as best I can, dear friend, but have got a long uncertain ways to go --doing my best.
DeleteEveryone has a job to do and tree frog has found its calling.
ReplyDeleteHe most certainly has --at least I think he's a he.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteEmilia Kurt, I have removed all backlinks from this, your comment:
Delete**********************************************
"I have being on blog Sites for awhile now and today i felt like i should share my story because i was a victim too. I had endometriosis for 18 years and i never thought i would ever get a cure and this made it impossible for me to get pregnant... I got to know about Dr. Itua on Blog Site who treated someone and the person shared a story of how she got a cure and let her contact details, i contacted Dr. Itua and he actually confirmed it and i decided to give a try too and use his herbal medicine that was how my burden ended completely. My son will be 2 this december and i am gratetful to God and thankful to his medicine too.Dr Itua Can As Well Cure...Cancer,Hiv,Herpes, Hepatitis B,Liver Inflammatory,Diabetis,Fribroid,Get Your Ex Back, He can also advise you on how to handle some maritals issues.He's a good man."
*******************************************
Well Emilia, it sounds as though you've found a miracle there in Togo. Best wishes.