The Goldfish and the Heron

 

This poem is inspired by an imagination of events taking place at the pond in South Chingford Memorial Park (The "Lost Park") 

The Goldfish and the Heron



“You won’t catch us Mr Heron!” said the goldfish in the pond.....
"Standing up there on your rock  in your boring grey coat with your beak stuck in the air"
Mr Heron says nothing
“This duckweed’s good, he can’t see us when we’re hidden under here
we can blow bubbles to annoy him, then swim swiftly away so he can’t locate us!”
Mr Heron looks slowly down at the duckweed-covered pond
“Then we can go and hide in the water lilies, we will be quite safe there”
So the goldfish hide in the water lilies. All is peaceful and nothing is happening, and all they can hear is the gentle flow of water as it enters the pond.
“I’m bored!” says one of the younger goldfish after a while “I’m going to see if Mr Heron is still there”
“Don’t go!” shout all the other goldfish, but too late the young goldfish is off!
He gets to the side of the pond where Mr Heron was standing before.
“I can’t see anything through this duckweed, I’m popping my head up to have a look.”
Suddenly there’s a splash as feet land in the pond….
“Oh no, I’m off back to the safety of …”
The sentence’s not completed as a sharp beak, like a dagger, comes flashing down out of the sky.
Poor goldfish!
Mr Heron swallows his meal, then slowly responds
“Dear goldfish, patience is a virtue. I may have a boring grey coat, but it suits me well. If you don’t want to finish up as someone’s dinner I would recommend one to you, rather than your garish red attire.
It will be supper time soon!”

 

Richard A. Ashen            September 2023


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