Nancy Dorrier

Toads Sleeping

“watch for toads sleeping”

the sign said

it could have said

“step gingerly”

that is exactly what we did

the note was written on a plant identification metal sign

and stuck in the pebbles walk leading to the house

a little brown toad sat or slept

it was hard to tell

slow stepping

another time and place

the novice monk

took us walking after a rain

it was at the farm in France

he said the same

don’t step on the baby frogs

they were the size of a quarter

slow walking in either case

mindful walking

we giants to them

at Upaya Zen Center

 it was the snails on the wooden walk

after a rain

watch

no crunching

then what about the centipedes nearby

I drove across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel

and passed a couple of dead gulls

and two living ones sitting on the railing next to the sea

is there a truck that comes by to collect the dead

are they tossed into the sea for fish food

then here on vacation

we are walking around with a fly swatter in our hands