Rosemarie Koch

PRINCE

In June my brother mowing lawns
has brought a gift:
a small brown speckled toad,
its heart another wild

animal altogether beneath
smooth flecked skin.

We make a carriage house for it:
a couch of grass, and a doll's wagon
for when it travels out upon
the lawns like a prince. The toad

reclines in its small box
all day while we eat
raspberries in
the sun, at night

illuminated by the
words of
lightning it
waits and I dream.

In the morning
the toad has fled,

and in August I find
the shell of a toad,
behind a leaf of raspberry,
leapt

clear free to better
heavens.

Location:	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Email:	rutabaga71@hotmail.com
Occupation:	Mom / Webmaster
Publications:	Snakeskin, Lingerings, Stirring, etc.

- September 2002 - Domino Coffee Shop Grammy's Tools The Man I Might Have Kissed Farm Stop Near White Sands, NM Rain on the Roof Prince Verite Last Will & Testament of the Millennium Roots Moon The New Lover in which dali transforms the image of death into my son's beautiful face - Aaron's Favorite Six - Calling the Minnows Moth Point of Entry Lust for Light After Ejaculation Give Me Liberty, or Give Me Spartanburg