Squat Frogs

This is the haibun form. A form I was unaware of until a few months ago. It combines a short piece of prose with a haiku that relates back to the prose. Deserves more recognition and use.

Our thoughts are squat frogs sploshing around in the foggy marsh of our minds. A croak here, a croak there, then they disappear into murkiness plopping up later, random and undetermined to splosh and croak some more.

Oh! that they were leaping salmon heading up through swirls and rocky torrents, progressing against currents and foam; the fish and river sparkling in the sun. Achieving at last the quiet pools above, tranquil and purpose filled. The surrounding waters no longer a challenge but a lucid overcoat, a flowing robe.

Is such a metamorphosis possible? Or should we simply wait, croaking, croaking, until the overwhelming flood rolls in, bringing with it all that silver, leaping and shining?

 

Squat frogs may jump high

But plop, they always return

To squat on the mud.

><>

Reviews

[Beccy]

In our minds, there is no difference between the squat frog and the leaping salmon.

Why wait? If every time before we leap, we look, the distant stars will remain ever distant.

World without mirrors
only the water reflects
though thoughts leap and shine.

Really enjoyed this stimulating read.

Beccy.

[afish]

Thanks-I'd council always looking before one leaps :). That haiku is -so good-! Go well.

[Christoph]

Splashing around is the fun bit.

I think this turned out adorable. Which might not have been the goal but, hey, it doesn't hurt.

[afish]

Hey Christoph-your comment made me think of that song, Mud! Mud! Glorious mud! nothing quite like it for cooling the blood. So follow me follow down to the hollow and there let us wallow in glorious mud. Yea fun, but my heart is in the highlands. Go well >

[Apollos]

Very interesting literary form & subject matter! Definitely my first squat frog poem to read lol

I believe it could be formatted in a more spaced out way to present your content in a ascetically pleasing manner.

>Grace and peace to you

[afish]

Hi Apollos-yea squat frog poems are a rare breed. Yea the presentation suggestion could work. Go well >

[GardenDelights]

An interesting comparison, interesting story. Your word pictures come through loud and clear, great imagery. My devious mind wants to know if, when all that shining silver overwhelms and floods our croaking frogs, we could suddenly get an intelligent thought and deposit all that silver in the bank? Payday, more or less. I'm now going to review the definition of haiku. Talk later...

[afish]

Thanks GD, money is useful stuff but it won't get us over the weir. Go well >

[GardenDelights]

So true! Take care...