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[For the frogs of the Mitigation pond]
Did all of the frogs leave now ?
wondered if you will end up accidentally breeding mosquitoes...
l saw the first official toad of the season only yesterday
[not for wont of looking ]
l took his photo to share , let him go, then didn't save it correctly
so he had the last laugh
But he didn't pee on me at least
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Coda by Clio2
FROG HAIKU
Matsuo Basho (Japanese, 1644-1694)
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Ancient pond, weed-grown:
On the rim, a frog sits. Leaps,
Cloop, glup plash ripple.
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(Above is an angels-fear-to-tread version of the world’s most famous haiku. For comparison here are another thirty-two translations plus commentary!
I don’t know the Japanese language at all -- this whim was inspired by a professional translator’s essay, which I’ve
not been able to find a second time, sadly. Two points of it, very memorable, were first, that this kind of pond is an artfully made garden feature, not a horsepond or forest pool, and in the poem, is in a neglected state; second, that the last line signifies a water sound, but no English equivalent really exists. The commentary at the link above, by Robert Aitken, covers some of the same ground, and more.)
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The khaki frog waits
Calling for amiplexus
His colored throat swells
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Here rules the lily pad
Many tadpoles call him dad
A small frog’s small pond
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The frog interferes
With gardening,but we shrug
He might eat a slug
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Ode Amphibia:
By Angmar, Clio2, & Mitigation master 6412093
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