Sophia
did you know tree frogs freeze
in New England winters
they burrow under rocks
in crevices heart and lungs
stop but they’re still alive
the frogcicles are starting
to thaw mating trills
fill the lightless night
acquatic ones rise above the pond’s
surface hop into the yard
look closely or you’ll miss them
green tan brown almost black
lycra-like skin squatting among mud
rocks pebbles sticks
& the awakening seeds
so much wildlife bees dragon flies owls
black bears and of course
turkeys and deer yesterday a neighbor
two blocks down photographed
a bobcat another a fox
your father’s cutting young branches
in the yard to make wicker balls
the craft flowers in the dining room
he made from birch bark
he’s the one who chose
your name it means wisdom
is it foolish for us to imagine
a daughter we will never
could never have
in my garden I hear your screams
bundled with laughter
the clump of soil you reached for
a frog jumping out of your hand