​POETRY    
          
Dabbling in a mud puddle    -    Photo by Weebly.com                                              

Waterplay
​(An abcedarian poem)
by Barbara Applegate

​A young robin was
Bob, bob, bobbin' along.
Clear notes of joy issued while
Dabbling in a mud puddle.
Elevating her tail,
Flapping her wings,
Giggling and chirping.
Here came another
Into the puddle
Jumping and splashing.
Kiddy play in any species.
Little did they know
Mother was nearby.
No, no, Mother chirped.
Outrageous behavior!
Parental disapproval,
Querulous scolding!
Rats! said the young ones
So much fun we were having,
Too bad Mother found us!
Unmerciful she is about
Velvet feathers getting muddy.
We'll have to leave this playland.
X-ray she'll likely order, but
You and I will come back tomorrow!
Zest for waterplay—unquenchable!
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​Barbara Applegate received a BA at UC Berkeley, with a major in Spanish, and an MS in Education at CSU, East Bay. As an administrator of Early Childhood Education, she developed a program to teach parents in non-English speaking families the value of helping their children retain the home language while learning English. She is the mother of 3 daughters, a traveler and a contemplative. She loves taking writing classes - not only because she learns from them, but because they give her structure for writing.
Other works in this issue:
Nonfiction:
​Puppy Love
Reflection
   

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Vistas & Byways Review is the semiannual journal of fiction, nonfiction and poetry by members of Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at San Francisco State University​.​
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​Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at San Francisco State University (OLLI at SF State) provides communal and material support to theVistas & Byways  ​volunteer staff.