Among the weeping willows and old oaks hide a pleasant little

pond.

Cattails guard the water's edge.

Weeds surround the pond like a moat.



Lily pads float with the queen, a lone white flower, as she

watches over her courtyard, proudly.

A protective rock juts out of the water, on top, a turtle

suns itself, worriless.



A frog's eyes leer.

Water bugs twiddle around in the sunlight.

Grasshoppers chat in the tall, hay-like grass.



Dragonflies zoom constantly over the pond like planes

performing in an air show.

A sly snake as sleek as a sword, waits, ready to pounce on

its prey at moment's notice.



A fish lingers on the edge of the courtyard in the clouds of

algae.

A group of tadpoles frolic in the warm shallow water.

I see the reflection of a blue bird as it flies over the

pond.

Then I see myself.

In the queen's courtyard, I do not belong.