Dear Sphinx,
It was with great pleasure that I received your visitation in my neck of the forest last month. I do hope that the contributions of my pharmaceutical frog friends helped in Sheba’s search for a universal panacea.
You said, at that time, that I might call on you to repay the favour when I have the need.
I have the need.
The forest, in which I make my life. The forest, in which we believe, is being axed by the axers and saws of chain wielders. If you could spare some of your precious time to come and defend my small world, I would very much appreciate it and our balance would be settled.
Thanks, in anticipation of your assistance,
Cordialement
Arrow Frog xxxx
Dear Arrow Frog,
I am devastated to hear of your predicament. This cannot stand. I have a couple of errands to run and then I will be at your side to prevent the terrible destruction that you see approaching. (introducing suspense)
Kind Regards
Sphinx xx
Dear Sphinx,
Please hurry as the chainsaws are nigh. I can hear them getting louder each hour!
Help!
Frog
She Sphinx arrived, out of breath, to find an endless levelling of tree stumps, with burning brushwood lying. Great heavy lorries, laden with sorrow and loaded with the corpses of ancient trees, lined the red dirt roads, blood on their wheels, smoke in their veins. The cattle ranchers and palm oil plantation owners arm wrestled over the spoils. A small enclave of the forest yet stood, the Arrow Frog’s Tree amongst them.
Upon the airs, rising and falling with the breeze, came a long slow lament. If there were words or content then they were indistinct, but the import or meaning or intent of the lament was plain as the tears drying on your face. Sadness was inscribed through and through by the music which pervaded every molly cule of air and things in air and tree and lorry and surrounding, that came in range of an hundreds meters. A sadness so profound that candle wax might melt, cause living things to feel a chilly wind and tea might taste bitter, was in the sound.
As the Sphinx approached the remaining trees, she saw that upon each branch sat a line of frog. Every size and hue, yellow and bright yellow, green and bright green, green and red, yellow and red, all singing the Lament of the Arrow Frog in full voice. Cheeks and throats puffing in effort.
She sphinx smote down the chainsaws in the dust and pushed the lorries into a spin. All the people ran away. Sphinx was happy to see them go as the working person has shoulder no blame.
Turning again, close enough to the words, the Sphinx paused. The words of lament now come clear.
Why must the tree fall down, the tree was strong, with parts everywhere.
Why must the frog fall,
A frog, a frog, a frog,
A tree frog, a frog in a tree.
I am the saddest, most unhappy frog ever.
I am also a bit angry.
Not the greatest poetry, said she Sphinx, But the point is well made.
The Guardians of the Cave 