As a frog—
or so I claim—
I hopped toward ponds
that spoke my name.
I sought the frogs
who laughed and played,
but when I smiled,
their joy would fade.
For when I flashed
my toothy grin,
the frogs all jumped—
they pulled me in…
then pushed me out,
then barred the way:
“You are not a frog.
You cannot stay.”
“You’re no such frog,
can you not see?”
“I am a frog—
it must be me!”
“Your voice is sharp,
your shadow long.”
“I am a frog.
What have I done wrong?”
“Can you not see
you’re far too tall?
Too rough, too wild,
too wrong for all.
Too hairy, heavy,
beast and big—
You look much more
like wolf than twig.”
But I replied,
with trembling call:
“Can you not see?
I’m frog, not all.
I’m small, I’m slick,
I’m soft, I’m green—
The truest frog
you’ve ever seen.”
They turned away.
The pond grew still.
And I stood there—
a frog by will,
a wolf by sight,
alone between
the self I felt
and what they’d seen.
Feb 20
Feb 20, 2026 at 2:48 PM UTC
As a frog—
or so I claim—
I hopped toward ponds
that spoke my name.
I sought the frogs
who laughed and played,
but when I smiled,
their joy would fade.
For when I flashed
my toothy grin,
the frogs all jumped—
they pulled me in…
then pushed me out,
then barred the way:
“You are not a frog.
You cannot stay.”
“You’re no such frog,
can you not see?”
“I am a frog—
it must be me!”
“Your voice is sharp,
your shadow long.”
“I am a frog.
What have I done wrong?”
“Can you not see
you’re far too tall?
Too rough, too wild,
too wrong for all.
Too hairy, heavy,
beast and big—
You look much more
like wolf than twig.”
But I replied,
with trembling call:
“Can you not see?
I’m frog, not all.
I’m small, I’m slick,
I’m soft, I’m green—
The truest frog
you’ve ever seen.”
They turned away.
The pond grew still.
And I stood there—
a frog by will,
a wolf by sight,
alone between
the self I felt
and what they’d seen.