Pollywog
"Mo"
by Fletcher Gripp
Time for frogs
Time for 'wogs
Pollywogs that turn to frogs
It could take weeks or
Months, you know
For pollywogs to change, to grow.
Spring is when the eggs are laid
On branches, twigs, near waterways
I found one once-a Bullfrog 'wog.
Behind our house back in our pond
During Fall I brought him in
The days becoming short and dim
Each day down to the pond I'd go
To fetch fresh water for Pollywog "Mo."
Bullfrog 'wogs take months to grow
I think she stayed 8 months or so
His dwelling large and water fresh,
Meals of algae, food and fish
He'd swim and swim and swim about
When tired, Mo rested on his rock
Popping up for air at will
You see, at this stage, he had gills!
Months went by, Mo's legs did sprout
I knew they would, there was no doubt!
next to come, last but not least,
Two more webless small front feet.
From two small holes on either side
Of Mo's quite bulbous head
Is where his front arms would pop out
A frog adult? Not yet...
Then his tail had started to shrink
A full formed Mo frog on the brink
Five inches now was Pollywog Mo
From head to his long tail
A few more weeks and soon I'd have
A full grown frog-not frail
Spring has sprung
The time has come
To set this Mo frog free
To use his instincts in the wild
As it was meant to be
I let him go one nice Spring morn
Trusting what I had done
To raise this being as well as I could
Until another's born.
Each day down to the pond I go
And there sits Bullfrog Mo
Eating bugs and winged things
Down where the algae grows
He's thriving, living, free at last
Alive and well, I know
It's good to see him everyday
But I miss my Pollywog Mo.
