Tangled Yarn

The green frog with yellow stripes is out of breath.

He takes a leap forward, and forward, and forward again. Yet, he’s never where he wants to be. Tomorrow, he sighs. Tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow. Still, despite all his forward momentum, despite all his undulation, he stays firmly (he would say unfairly) rooted in the present.

In the present where he doesn’t notice the chill of the pond water on his skin, or the taste of the flies he haphazardly catches, or the smell of budding lilies. He goes through the motions because tomorrow, tomorrow is where he needs to be. He’s a stubborn guy. Despite his failure to throw himself into tomorrow, he doesn’t stop from thinking one day, some day, tomorrow will happen when he needs.

The yellow frog with green stripes can’t breathe.

She takes one look back, and slowly pushes air out of her lungs. Another look back, and even farther, and even farther still. Yet, she’s never where she wants to be. Yesterday, she sighs. Yesterday, yesterday, yesterday. Still, despite the craning of her neck, despite her refusal to move, she stays firmly (she would say unfairly) rooted in the present.

In the present where she doesn’t notice the quiet arrival of spring with its longer days and warmer nights, or the transformation of the tadpoles that once swum beneath her, or anything really, except her memories of a better day. She goes through the motions because yesterday, yesterday is where she needs to be. Suffice to say, it’s never yesterday. She has a stubborn resolve, though, one proportional to her sadness. Yesterday, yesterday she was happier. She can’t stop herself from thinking one day, some day, yesterday will happen again.

The green frog with yellow stripes and the yellow frog with green stripes won’t notice each other. They won’t ever collide on the pond or plane of the present. Though they exist here, they refuse to acknowledge it. And with that, they slam the lily pad down on happiness, friendship, love — on anything more.

It only takes a moment though, a second of hesitation to break free from all these patterns. Takes only a breath to notice the flashes of green and yellow in the corner of their eyes.