A reading reptile?

On By Michele LeeIn Humor, Reading, Verse
I met a new friend on a recent trip.
His blood cold, mine warm,
His exterior jagged and off-putting, mine soft and inviting.
It was an instant kindred connection,
despite our night and day differences.

What’s not to love about
     his carefree charm,
       his adorable chin,
         his sensitive eyes,
           and his reptilian grin.

Out in the wild, he answers to the name of Horny Toad,
but he is domesticated, so I will just call him Todd.
Whether he should maintain his nickname,
is anyone’s guess and frankly, none of my business.

I quickly learned he is stuck on a story
and set in his ways, but he makes me smile,
with his finger-pointing faux-reading style.

🦎 📚 😂

Enjoy a smile and maybe a book too. 😊 Be well. 💗 Michele

Photo: Prescott Public Library, taken by JBG

© 2021 Michele Lee Sefton.

87 thoughts on “A reading reptile?”

      4. The desert does have its share of unique inhabitants. Cute! The lizards I see in the day scurry away when they see me and the little geckos that come out at night are little statues waiting to catch bugs. Porch entertainment. 😆

        Liked by 1 person

  8. asumoftheparts

    Really cute reaction to what’s in front of you. Reminds me that when I was in first and second grades in Prescott, my brother and I played with horny toads. They were not friendly playmates, but we persevered, creating stories for them before we returned them to their rocky desert habitat. I’m sure they had stories to tell their friends that night when they got home.

    >

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    1. Thank you. In front of me blended with my reactive grey matter. 😁 Cute Sonoran desert story. We had a pet tarantula, for a while, until she too was returned to the wild. I remember watching her step away with her hairy spider legs toward freedom (hopefully). 🕷

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  9. Sitting beside an attractive Arizonian wearing a jean jacket, I’d say that Todd has it made in the shade 🐸 I enjoyed your delightful poetry about a new friend, Michele, and wrote this short verse in response…

    A toad named Todd
    Gave Michele the nod
    And the two began to chat.

    They spoke of books
    Of different looks
    And his desert habitat.

    I posted my poem and linked to yours as reference – hope that’s OK. If not, I can unlink. Have a pleasant day, my friend 🌞

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    1. Very complimentary and complementary. Thank you! 😊 Todd is a lucky lizard. No worries or need for shoes or business suits, just smiles, books, and welcoming looks. He is a poser, but it’s impossible to not adore his cold-blooded ways. 📸 🦎 😂 I love your verse. If Todd were to read it, I am sure he would smile too. Thanks for the write and share, Phil. Have fun taking more amazing photos! 🌞

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    1. Thank you, Dwight.😊 Haha An understandable interpretation of my playful poem. Not a new man, just affection for an adorable reptile with a book in his hand. 🦎📚💓 I will visit him when I can. I don’t expect much to change in his world. 😉

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      2. I love your fun fairytale twist! ✨ You are giving me ideas for a story… maybe a sequel to my Moon Dreams, Beams, and Schemes poem from last year or a story of Todd leaping from those books! 🤔 I did not attempt to change Todd, but should a passing princess (or prince) turn him into a prince, he would be missed. 🐸💕 Adorable lizards do deserve forever happiness, or at least a nice stretch and change of scenery. 😂 Thanks, Dwight. Too cute!

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    1. Fun little diddy, Don. 😁

      He’s a cutie, making people smile,
      but it can’t be easy living the life
      of an oversized scaly bibliophile. 📖

      Forced to read and greet everyday.
      No chance to capture live ants,
      or join other horny toads at play. 🦎

      Poor Todd. 😔

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      1. I blame my makers for this
        Making me static
        Can’t go out and hunt yum ants
        Hunt yum ants to up-lick

        But hey? I get to meet lotsa nice girls….

        Who chat and give me cuddles….

        Not like those just HORRIBLE boys who throw rocks and stones at me Michelle….I can’t help it if I look like this can I?

        Me- I liked the differences compared in the first verse….

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      2. Well, when you put it that way,
        I suppose Todd’s existence
        isn’t too monotonous.

        Maybe life in the harsh desert
        is less advantageous
        than being a well-loved
        relaxed reading lizard.
        🐸🦎🌵 🌞

        Thank you, me. 😀

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      3. I would be content with such a life…what we don’t know Michelle is what he might get up to at night when no-one is watching…it pays not to think about it……I assume you only made one visit?……one wonders if part of him (due to his ‘carelessness’) might not be quite in the same place next day……I’m sure I’m incorrect and Mr Todd knows his place…..

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      4. Your thoughts about Todd are turning him into a round character, in story terms. A term that also describes his reptilian body. So yes, pun intended. You have given this poetic storyteller much to consider. 🤔 No one is paying me to not think about it, so I might as well think about it. 😆

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    1. Happy to share a funny. 😁
      The sculpture is inspired by a Horned lizards (Phrynosoma), aka horny toads or horntoads. Not an actual toad, just his nickname. His body shape does resemble a round frog, but he is a reptile. 🦎 A carefree (pretend) reading one! 😛 Thank you for the visit. 😄

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      1. You are welcome! All is well with me, I am 9 credits from my masters degree and building a studio room in my basement for future projects!
        By the way, I want to do some motivational speaking and writers healing projects. It surely was good to see you by the reptile…lol

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      2. That is fantastic! It will feel amazing to finish and you are so close! It is going to feel freeing to not have homework. 😅 What will your degree be in? I have an M.Ed and graduate certificate in compositional studies. That is enough for me! 😆 Your basement project sounds awesome. Keep me posted on your speaking and healing projects. They sound interesting. 👏🏻 Thank you. The reading reptile made me smile. 😁

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      4. Ha! Do you think the school helped him with that or just his personal drive? Maybe both.
        You might not be rich and famous, but hope you are happy and surely you had fun clubbing. School and success do require sacrifice.

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      5. I think the school and personal drive. Remember Michele. he met his other Goon friends also at the school. This is how a lot of comics hone their trade…..around other comics….. The Monty Python lot also went to their own school……if you follow me…..

        No, I am not rich an famous but I am happy. Rich and famous rarely (?) make one happy…

        I just like playing round with words. And having fun…….I am content with that

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      6. I follow you and I followed you. 😁
        Being happy is a wonderful state of being. I am happy to read you are happy. 😀 Being content with writing content is also wonderful. 😊

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      7. My masters is in a MBA and pastoral counseling! Michele…lol…Yes you enough enough education, wits, beauty and kindness❣️
        I will keep you posted on those projects. Michele I really appreciate you. Thank you!😘

        Liked by 1 person

      8. Impressive! Something tells me completing your program will be just a pause before you are on to a doctoral program. 🤔 If I am right, I hope you are able to enjoy a well-earned break first! Thank you! 🤗

        Liked by 1 person

  22. I would be sitting down beside this silent yet exuding and mysterious lover of words too! Love his inviting look and the way he reminds me of the illustrations in the children’s book William the Curious: Knight of the Water Lilies. 🙂

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