Pondlife Poem by Christopher Woodall

My emerald tie in the sunlight
Circling this occasional pool
With the dignity of an albatross
Lapping the earth in an afternoon.

I’m a minor dragon-fly hungrily
Watching the mayfly office girls
Use their one free hour of life
To show off to the world

Their sleek black trouser-suits
And lovely functional hair
Hardly diguising a femininity
Of which I am madly aware.

But nothing exists between us
Save our sandwiches and errands
They keep their glossy eyes averted
As when nuns perform their penance.

So I studiously ignore them
Studying my own reflection
Wondering if my true love dream
Will need immaculate conception.