Pondering

One fine summer day, I was out for a walk in the countryside, and I came across a pond. Just a little pond, skirted by a path few people came by. It was getting hot, and I was drawn to the shade of the trees that surrounded the water, cupping it like a protective hand. There was an old rope swing hung from a branch in the shade; I didn’t sit on it – it looked like it would drop me if I tried. But, there was a log, partially in the water but mostly out, and I sat there to bask in the coolness for a while. Sunlight filtered through the leaves and danced on ripples in the water. There were birds singing softly to one another nearby – I heard them but didn’t see them. A green frog sat in the reeds at the edge of the water, and watched me for a moment, throat bulging convulsively, before he plopped into the water and swam away. I felt as if I were in a place out of time – I peeked carefully around this miniature universe in hopes of seeing a fairy peeking at me too (grinning – yes, I did). A cool breeze rustled in the leaves overhead; birdsong combined with the buzz of bees in the wildflowers, and lulled me near to dozing. I breathed in the peace; and found myself in the reflection looking back at me from the wavering green water. A distant horn honked and a plane flew noisily overhead, and reality crashed back down on me. I stood, brushed moss off the seat of my cut-offs and walked in the heat of the sun back the way I’d come. Looking back, I could see nothing but the dusty path.