Story 5: The Little Red Frog

The city was grimy. 

All smothered in smog.

Until one dot of color

Hopped in from the bog.

In a city so gray

He didn’t belong.

His brightness was blinding,

The little red frog.

In a place so dreary,

The people were sad.

No color, no beauty,

Just gray on gray plaid.

But something changed then,

Something un-gloomy.

For anything our Frog touched

Turned red as a ruby.

Falling teardrops changed first.

Red splashed off his back.

Frog’s toe touched the water

And red burst from black.

Frog leaped on the sidewalk,

Dancing so merry.

Every brick and each lamp-post

Went red as strawberries.

Then he jived on the cars,

Which went shades of pink.

The houses and hydrants

Turned red as red ink.

Scarlet doors, cherry streets,

Houses and high wires,

Frog touched and they lit

The color of desire.

Last came the tall tower

As gray as a ghost.

Frog tip-toed to the top

And turned it redder than most.

And the city was lovely

Now bright and alive.

Frog’s work was done.

He danced in the sunny red sky.

But he heard a faint sound

So far down below.

And the sound sounded gray

Like sad, sobbing groans.

He looked down to the streets

And saw a great crowd.

The people were still gray

And too dull for their town.

So Frog licked his red lips,

Hopped down on a head,

And with a great wet kiss

Turned them every flavor of red.

Red like a hot chilli,

Salmon, robin, rose.

A dozen blushed maroon

From Frog’s kiss on the nose.

“Thank you! Thank you!” they said,

Cheeks apple red and ripe.

“How can we repay you?”

Frog said, “Enjoy the color in life.”

Smiles on every face,

Red as cherry tart,

The little red frog

Blew one more kiss to his art.

Then off he hopped, hop, hop,

To brighten some far town.

To know where he has gone

Look for his famous red glow and listen for his bouncy, joyful sounds.