The Great Frog Race (Monday Poem)

by Kristine O'Connell George


We used flashlights one night
to find them in the damp and secret
places in the garden.

We put the frogs in a cardboard box
and wet down the driveway.
The garden hose was the finish line.

One by one, we lined up the frogs,
(It wasn't easy.)
We yelled: Ready-- Set-- Go!

Seventeen frogs leaped in all directions,
croaking.  Blurk. Blurk. Blurk.
The Great Frog Race was over quickly.

One by one,
all contestants hopped off
into the moonlight.


from The Great Frog Race and Other Poems
by Kristine O'Connell George
1997, Clarion