You lived in the lily pond

Under the Japanese bridge

Swam with koi fish

Through sun-dappled waters

Nothing disturbed

Your life of spring peeper songs

And whirligig laughter

Till you sat beneath the red bridge

At dusk

Frog’s eggs pearls around your neck

You saw his face in the still black waters

Then no starlit swim

Or sweet whisper of reeds could calm your restless soul

You rose from the waters

Set foot on the bridge

Knowing the sun would cause you to dry and crumble like clay

Just to look in his eyes

Just to stand face to face