Flexi-Time*
Down morning-dew-slippery slopes
to the creek, to the bridge leaning
on the rail overlooking the lake,
gazing at the quiet bright water
shiver at a breeze and shimmer;
admiring on its sunlit lakeside
rock a coiled snake so at home,
I think: if I were a tiger snake
I could worm my head under my stripy
belly and rest it on my tail.
Not being a tiger snake I merely
squirm a bit to exercise my spine
and go on gazing. There it rests,
between forays for a frog meal
or two. From the lake edge I hear
as it too may hear frog-croaks.
They have their schedule, morning calls
to sound out. Snake and I enjoy
being on flexi-time - Gleitzeit,
sliding-time. Now I'll slope off home.
*flexi-time, originally derived from the German word Gleitzeit which
literally means 'sliding time', is a variable work schedule [Wikipedia]
Max Richards
Ruffey Lake Park,
Doncaster, Victoria
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