Toad as Seer

Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem

In Oriental thought a toad might croak

A moon—or even Buddha’s moon.  The belch

Might bring Enlightenment.  Beneath an oak

A monkish toad might find a way to squelch

Samsara.  Ugliness of face and skin

Would clearly mean that he could prophesy

And do away with wickedness and sin.

Grotesquerie is where this toad could fly

From focused Oriental mind

While squatting on a lotus.  In a mist

This cloud would make religious realms to find

Serenist serendipity, god-kissed.

  So, never mind the spider.  It would be

    Tongue disappeared to holy toad’s quick glee.

© Phillip Whidden