The Effrontery of Frogs

A fort of frogs, one summer night,
set out to have some fun;
they heard about that trove of toads
from some amphibian.

  (It was those toads who made a splash
  with their temerity;
  the frogs were not to be outdone--
  their green was jealousy.)

The leader of the frogs was Leap,
yet he was once a snake;
some frogs bogged him in effigy
at dawn along the lake.

But Leap would hop along the moss
and with his tongue implore;
so all the frogs would acquiesce
and stay a bog encore.

Leap led them from their island home
(so insular their pad),
to hop through gardens and back yards
in their at-night frog fad.

They had their own proclivity
to find a pool and soak;
and when the crickets chirped in song,
they sang along in croak.

Some frogs came up to Leap and said,
“Let’s delve through doggie-doors!”
Leap remained inexorable:
“No need for mutt uproars.”

But then Leap sought to mollify
those frogs who were hell-bent;
he showed them there was lots to do
within a dryer vent.

The frogs were just insatiable
in their up-front delight;
and when they headed back for home,
a shambles was the night.

So bold and brash to croak at last!
Effrontery appears;
This frog-fest is quadrennial--
they’ll be back in four years.


[Rhythm: 8-6-8-6]  (Lines: 40) (Words: 227)
Hawk’s Vocabulary Contest; January, 2012

All 10 words used.

Temerity (n)................Reckless boldness. rashness.
Effigy (n)....................Crude representation of someone disliked.
Acquiesce (v)..............To asset tacitly, submit or comply quietly.
Insular (adj).................Pertaining to islands, forming an island.
Proclivity (n)................Natural or habitual inclination or tendency.
Inexorable (adj)............Unyielding, unalterable (not to be persuaded or moved).
Mollify (v)....................To soften in feeling or temper.
Insatiable (adj).............Incapable of being satisfied.
Shambles (n)...............Any scene, place or thing in disorder.
Quadrennial (adj).........Occurring every 4 years.

ID: 1794289   (Rated: E) The Temerity of Toads  Swing-time toads. by Teargen