Frog,” by Ed Oberski

Frog Ed Oberski Community Writing Center Participant

Ed Oberski started writing poetry when he retired in mid-2018. New to the art, Ed has taken advantage of both the Bay and Saginaw Community Writing Centers. Both groups played a significant role in the creation and improvement of several of his poems including the one published here. In previous lives, Ed was the CEO of Great Lakes Bay Michigan Works!, did (or so he says) a poor job as a trial lawyer, served in the U.S. Coast Guard, and grew up on a small farm. He and his wife, Celina, live in Saginaw Township, Michigan. Together they enjoy visiting their daughter and son in-law in Toronto, Canada, and their son in New Orleans, Louisiana. In retirement, Ed also studies Buddhism, enjoys an occasional cigar, and attempts to play pickleball.

In cattail and coontail, bull rush and cutgrass In duckweed and pondweed, fanwort and cordgrass

Through this murky water, with light so subdued All is green or brown, but in every hue

There are layers and layers of life, it abounds It is all that I see, that I sense. Life surrounds

In all three dimensions, I am free to roam Above and below, all around is my home

But now I sit still, invisible almost And the world passes by in a slow-motion coast

As my smooth, dappled skin drinks in the wetness I am at peace. I am safe. I’m unstressed

Then comes a slow change in my internal software My body it’s cold, and my lungs they need air

With just a slight push, I glide upward with purpose Only my eyes and my nose break the surface

No threat presents, shadow, movement or sound I climb onto a pad, and take in all around

I’m confined to this plane, but so vast is this world With all colors and sounds, and blue sky unfurled

Need both sets of eyelids, the sun’s so severe But it warms my blood, so for now I’ll stay here