Temporary Frog
I barely remember what I did
to be transported to this princess’
backyard doomed to matrimony.
The youngest spoiled daughter
said she would, now she refuses
to share her gold cup. Father insists,
fair father-in-law. I have mixed feelings.
It hasn’t been bad to be a frog,
I eat mosquitoes and flies
at the edge of the well. I swim
in the brown, scummy water
when the sun gets hot. I’ll miss
the cool mud, once I’m a prince again.
Yet here I am, asking her to kiss me.
About This Poem: This poem appeared in the twentieth and final edition of Edison Literary Review, Fall 2021. The list of poets represented in this volume includes many names familiar to me over the years from the New Jersey poetry community. I’m especially pleased to be in the company of some poetry friends and teachers: Svea Barrett, Barbara Daniels, Lois Marie Herrod, Peter E. Murphy, and Kelley Jean White. This is a silly persona poem (there’s that fairy-tale influence again). I wrote it in a Stockton class ten years ago, but I’m happy it found such a distinguished home. I’m grateful to the long-time editor, Gina Larkin.
