Children brought the first

Proudly to my door

Incongruous in Tupperware

Stark and beautiful against

The semi-opaque plastic

Why do we call these “warts”?

As if imperfections on the skin

Symmetrical in curves of browns,

Greens and all the in betweens

More beautiful than princely garb

The second sat, big as a fist

On the flagstone patio

Seemingly unconcerned

As if he knew I was no threat

No predatory bird or beast

The dogs found the third

Frantic to get at the creeping thing

Behind the green-glazed planter;

I airlifted him to safety

In the log-pile by the pond

Oli 10/09/07