Pond Life

A body 
belly-up 
floats – 
pale yellow 
slick 
gilt edged 
against
black waters

limbs bob
fan out 
unfold
a birthday 
suit stretched 
naked

somewhere 
between
sadness       
and disgust

unsprung 
it tickles
edges of
before
and after 

a wave 
of wind 
curls 
dreaming
ignores it

ruffles 
past 
an infinity 
of hedges 
the slimy thing 
too silly

to bother with 
its lack of
elegance
an ironic prince 
to your pirouettes