The Prince of Frog Pond

At the edge of the park, where the lily pads float

Lived a slippery frog with an emerald coat

A blob of pond jelly with two bulging eyes 

Flopping and plopping while searching for flies

He was SLIMY and MUDDY and STICKY and SMALL

Yes - life of a frog was not easy AT ALL!

His squishy soft skin and round belly-bun

Made kids point and laugh, throw pebbles and run...

ALL he could think of, NON-STOP, EVERY DAY  

Was a magical castle FAR, FAR AWAY 

The life of a prince seemed truly enchanting

Loved and adored, always laughing and dancing …

As the fairy tale goes, and it’s bound to be true

HE had a chance to be a prince too!

"Ribbit," he croaked

‘I pray and I pray..

If only a kiss would transform me one day

I really don’t care -

From WHOM, WHERE and HOW

I just need a plan, and I need it NOW’

With a wink and a grin, he hopped from his nook

‘If I want a kiss, I must change how I look!

I’ll cover my skin and hide my old self  

Then sit tight and wait, like a toy on a shelf

I’ll be soft, I’ll be plush and this moss is just right

Pat here, pat there, I'm all a delight!’

He WAS feeling fuzzy, yet something was missing…

He’ll need SO MUCH MORE  for the magic of kissing:

A stick for a cane, two flowers for glasses, a feather for tie and shoes with gold tassels.

A shell pocket watch, a dragonfly wing, a crown made of vines and a stone for a ring. 

WOOOOOOOOW – what a show!

You could gaze at the Sun but not at his glow!

A group of young girls who walked hand in hand

Came close to the water, their feet in the sand

‘IS THAT A POND MONSTER?’ they said with a snigger

WHO and WHAT is this GHASTLY figure?!

‘He looks like a puzzle with pieces mixed up!’

‘He looks like a pizza with a rainbow on top!’

‘A crushed origami, an upside-down cup!’

Is it a goblin? An ogre with clothes?

Or worse!! Still a FROG, which everyone LOATHES!

His brilliant plot had fallen apart

It was sunny outside, yet it rained in his heart…

Nothing he did ever helped him. AT ALL.

He will ALWAYS be just a small sticky troll…

Then came a girl with curious eyes  

Who did not laugh at his silly disguise

Clutching a notebook for her Science class

A backpack, a pen and a trusty spy glass

She cradled him softly, in a gesture so tender

And wiped off the moss with the sleeve of her sweater

‘You have leafy-green skin as soft as a whisper

And DREAMY big eyes with sparkles of glitter 

You can glow in the dark as fireflies do 

And climb up a building with your toes made of glue

You don’t need glasses nor tassels of gold

To show who you are, so UNIQUE and so BOLD

You’re a prince of two worlds, both water and earth

Those who look closely can see your true worth!’

The magic he dreamt of was here all along

In the splash of his dive and the croak of his song

The Prince of Frog Pond now won his true fight

Not changing his looks but changing his mind

With one single thought he could turn his own fate -

Yes - life of a frog was TOAD-ally great!