The End?

On either side this old worn path
Cyclamingos n fluttery grass
Once prinked the garden, teased the yard,
Tis this way this way not so far -
Magenta-towered Garden Pond.
But now among the yellowing beds,
Underneath the greenest aphids,
Sombre bowing of lampshade heads -
For some small light has gone.

Mushroom flitted through summer days
Zhooshing the loosestrife, humming away

In chicly, warmly-hued array -
Sautéed mushroom .. café au lait
Olé did you say, jet-black tom?
In your tinkly collar powder-blue,
Locked-out at night by the handlers who
Gave you your name before they knew.
Does Molly know where Mushroom has gone?

Funny Face with the rosy nose,

Not-stuck-on white heart-shaped mouche,

Summered here though sightings were few;

Did all that charm just make you mewl,

Peculiar scourge of Garden Pond?

Sheltered by the duck's bill Platypus

Was not a sweet sight for a sourpuss;

Eye shadow so blue saw you envious?

Where has that water-flower gone?

It may have been the very mean grass snake,

Behind the eyebrows without a face,

Behind the rest of Sam reaching space.

Or it may have been a shoelace.

Come home buff guardian of Garden Pond.

Might Nougat have come unstuck when the grass snake grew?

Diabolical enough that Corona flew?

What mischance have you seen cold moon?

Where have those poor frogs gone?

How I wonder, diamond Twinkle,

Did Hedgehog One like dark Swift-Tuttle,

All Perseid-spined, all sniff n scuttle,  

Snuffle out your sparkle?

Little star of Garden Pond.

Did clear-eyed Acer meet Hedgehog Two?

Did One n Two circle, then plummet from view,

The Calypso:/ Smiler:) manoeuvre removed?

Where have those bright frogs gone?

Shed-spinning October storm,

Strange caller of twiggy form.

Mango grabbed, not meaning harm?

Left you a drifting fading Orion ...

Cartoonish ghost of Garden Pond,

Frozen, reaching, ever after

Until the Spring and winged Sahara

Found the pond and shrouded the water,

Swept Twig up and far beyond

In the after-vibes of the magic carpeting,

A glint, a glowing, a ray, a burning.

Were you reposing - 

Or did the fox catch you surfing

Sahara, laid-back gem of Garden Pond?

Was there no fooling that fox of steel

For dashing Wampee, for mellow Orange Peel?

Nature's no fun and all too real.

Where have those cool frogs gone?

Soft soul Mistletoe, always around ..

Are you fleeing from that fearful sound?

Or seeking out those rowdy owls?

Oi Ricky, Bianca, turn it down!

Poetic spirit of Garden Pond.

A summer shower and there was Gene,

A sunny raindrop, sun unseen.

Then hoot screech hoot screech

Be happy again, wherever you've gone.

In the yard the backyard of Shallot,

A garland wove of woodlice was dropped;

The curse did it fall, by the bins by the pot?

Leg-Warmers was it? Doth prance a lot.

Did you look down to Garden Pond?

The younger black cat red collared

Strolls where you once stood;

Did it bear you palely pondward?

The garland wilts, fair Shallot has gone.

Mother blackbird, newt-hoicking, formidable,

Tutting, strutting, with a bow-shot whistle, 

Told Ziggy and Zog to go get a cubicle?

Warned kingly Spotty and queenly Caramel,

Not in mother blackbird's pond!

Did she arrange old Inky's tub-soak?

Inky of the deepest croak,

The very first to be photographed.

Where have those esteemed frogs gone?

What could account for no Mother Blusher?

Molly got a hiss and left his collar;

One hard stare was enough for Warmers;

And surely no falls for this surest of climbers,

Of majestic spired Garden Pond.

What could explain no bruised bruiser Mango?

No flashing, flaming, bold Geronimo?

Something spectral or something con brio?

Oh where have those brave frogs gone?

Whither the six / seven hundred

From whence the trug did flood?

The little Ziggys and Zogs, the budding

Mangos and Blushers?

No splashing of feet in Garden Pond.

Where's the first out? J and pole?

Nom? The Golden Tadpole?

Choppy? Leica? Oh

Fearless pioneers where have you gone?

What of the twenty tiniest

Moved to a quiet tub. What of Fattest?

What of Nugget? Teeny Tiniest?

What of One Eye? What of Palest?

None adorneth Greyest Pond.

Poor Swollen Eye? Trugger Pluto, who twice crashed the tub?

The awesome Werefroglet?

Crooked Tail? Spot?

Where have those tailenders gone?

Well mother blackbird, what do you say?

So master magpie, up to nothing that day?

Hey parakeet, is your conscience okay?

Hmmm matey newts, led anyone astray?

For there are no frogs at all round Garden Pond.

How did the pondlife most utterly pall?

Did a shadowy curse most curiously fall?

Was the curse wrought by one or by all?

Oh what other rhyme, what other reason?