The Ferryman Frog

The Ferryman Frog

Ever since you were a wee frog,
fascinated by that creature,
not believing that the heavens
in fact do direct our passage.
Ignoring all the warnings
and, in truth, unfair prejudice
held against a fellow creature.
While he’s not patently evil,
a needle on his curving tail,
eight legs, crab-claw hands to match.
You always were enthralled by his
appearance, by his visage, that
you committed to befriend him
though you knew his reputation:
repays each attempted ferry
o’er the waters with a stinging.

Arthropod, it sounds so simple,
innocent, just like a flower.
Double “S”, his tail is curved,
at the end, a needle, venom.
The request of this “crustacean”*:
carry him across the waters,
and he promises no stinging,
or else you both would drown.
You almost quite believe him.

Swimming, almost at the shore then
when you feel the sting sink deeply,
deep into your froggy tissue.
Wow, you really can’t conceive it!
Broken promise, deep injustice,
but you’re hardy, you were ready.
Can’t deny your fascination,
claw-like hands and multi-legged,
curving tail just like a hook.
On the end is a syringe that
did just puncture through your permeable skin.

Very sick, but you’re not dying.
You would take some time off work.
You had found a rare supplier
of the venom of your carriage.
Knew that your vocation
would require preparation.
So you dosed yourself most neatly,
not ingesting too much poison,
just enough to build resistance
when at last you can commence it:
your aqua-transport business!
Now you swim across the water,
breast stroke that you know by heart.
Despite the complex of their bodies,
those you carry are quite light of weight.

Aesthete frog became a ferry,
and your foresight and endurance
did reward you. In the future
you will never have to fear them
and in fact you just might eat them
if you’re hungry. Instead, probably
charge them money for the crossing,
and not quit from eating flies.

____________
* Replace “‘crustacean’” with “arachnid” and the poem works the same although the attempted humor is lost.