Conservation Guardians of Northwest Illinois

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A Toast to Spring
In response to JDCF's Frog Walk, April 18, 2008

Chorus frogs and peepers
Bull frogs and northern leopards
Chiming an opera of desire
On a sodden stage,
Their audience traipsing a moonlit ridge
To attend the nocturnal performance,
Intent on every nuance of
Croak
Trill
Snore
Applauding amphibian effort
With rapt attention,
Leaning into night air
Ears straining beyond children’s high chatter
Sorting sound
Thrilling to the special effects of
Cloud clearing
Moon driven
Sudden shadows
Sky ceiling lit by stars.

Receding footsteps empty the theatre
While actors repeat their lines
Repeat their lines
Til the dawn curtain rises
To thunderous silence.

— Maureen Bardusk