Dragon in the Peach Tree - June 14, 2024

with the tree's peaches small and green

and fertilizer in gloved hand

I lean in close to the trunk

a large lizard jumps from the tree

onto my back  leaps to the ground

and whipslithers out of sight

of course  my breath stops

heart freezes shocked by the

scabby-skinned dragonrat

and instantly replay the jump

airborne with legs and tail stretched

unfortunately blurred in that quick

photo taken for my memory

so I decide to photoshop

make it longer  farther

not a leap but a glide

head turned back to me

a smile from the creature

tongue flicking fire

in a wink of smoke