The Forest Pond

Its modest size not that of a lake the 
pond sits serenely in the midst of
large old trees, its watery interior an
aquatic forest of plants whose roots
are firmly entrenched in its sandy bottom.
Water fowl visit on occasion to feed on
its plenitude of duckweed and rest in
the reeds growing on its perimeter.
Shafts of sunlight readily penetrate
the forest canopy to cast their glancing
brilliance on the surface of the pond
where stray breezes create ripples
transformed to diamond beads whose
prisms become tiny temples of
incandescent colour. Wind carries the
sound of birds singing nearby and
tumbles dry foliage in subdued hues
of fall to float, then sink on the pond
home to caddisflies, dragonflies,
delicate damselflies and crickets.