Benny Sees The Pond 1962 Poem by Terry Collett

Yehudit showed me
this place
with a small pond
behind my parent's cottage
through the woods.

I waited for her
by the back gate.

Birds sang
a rabbit stopped
on the small path
and gazed at us
then ran off
into the undergrowth.

She held my hand
and talked
about her home life.

Her hand was warm
and held mine tight
as if she was afraid
I would run off
like the rabbit.

This is the pond
she said
as we came
to a clearing.

The pond
was quite large
and circular.

Ducks swam there
and dragonflies hovered
over the skin
of the murky water.

Are there
fish in there?
I said.

Of course
she said.

We sat on the grass
at the side
and looked
at the ducks swimming.

How comes you
have not seen
the pond before?
she said.

I've not been this far
in the woods before
or crossed that field
I said.

This could
be out lake
she said.

She leaned
close to me
our lake
she whispered.

I turned
and gazed at her.

Yes it could be
I said.

We stared
at each other.

A pheasant called out
from the woods behind.

A woodpecker rata-tatated
on a tree.

She moved in close
and kissed me.