Lady of the Lake

"I cannot see the forest, or the trees!"
the Lady of the Lake complained, out loud.
"Why must the water's surface be a tease,
its ripples rolling over sky and cloud?"

The denizens of her submerged abode
were careful in their answers to their queen:
the frog -- he hated being called a toad --
said: "Majesty, the forest can't be seen

because the water, acting as a mirror
is sending the light back to whence it came.
If it's your wish to see, to see things clearer
the lake itself must shoulder all the blame."

"I know that, toad", she said, her temper showing.
"are you enjoying as your Lady begs?"
I've had enough of toadying and bowing
It's putting me in mind for some frog legs".

The frog, not for the first time, thought his queen
unreasonable, but us frogs do cope.
So that the forest, could at will, be seen
he made her an ascending periscope

Author notes: wc 159