Butterfly on flower settles prim
Cecil gasps in quick surprise,
Coloured wings attractive firm and trim
Reaches out, and insect flies.
Into air with sky effective shield
Fluttering in a gentle breeze.
Will it head for outside yonder field?
Jumps up in attempt to seize.
Settles quickly on an old deck chair
Barrier fence its safe retreat,
Swimming pool its safety chosen lair
Feeling safe from little feet.
Cecil gazing through the iron slats
How he wishes to be in,
Testing entry gate he quietly pats
Then he spies discarded bin.
Grunting pulls it to the entry gate
Finds a box as stepping stool,
Now he’s watched by little sister Kate
Cecil acting out a fool.
Kate alarmed calls for her mother near
Snipping in her garden patch
Mother shouts in sudden desperate fear
Cecil opens gate top latch
Cecil Jumps down in forbidden place
Mother rushes calling out,
Butterfly is gone there’s now no trace
Fails to mind his mother’s shout.
Heads for nearby water shimmering blue
Daddy takes him oft to play,
Cecil doesn’t seem to have a clue
Daddy isn’t here today.
Startled by their anxious barking dog
Cecil sways, then there’s a splash
Floats for moment like a rolling log
Mother grabs him in a flash.
Mother rushes spluttering boy inside
Towels his shaking body down,
In his memory fear will long abide
Lucky that he didn’t drown
Sister lisps that Cecil’s very bad
Cecil hangs his head in shame
Mother comforts her repentant lad
Says he’ll never do again.
Father hears the story end of day
Replaces latch with padlock strong,
Poolside not a place for children’s play
Without an adult there along.
© Copyright 2019 Ian Grice, “ianscyberspace.” All rights reserved
The above image is copyrighted to Signature Pools
ianscyberspace 
Good flow to your poem, Ian and a warning. Water and little ones…eeekk. Hugs x
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Your poem reads partly as a narration and partly as a tragic warning to children, I suspect that most parent, myself included, have at least one save’ story like Eric’s comment This poem is a good oer for the southern hemisphere spring!.
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corrected version:
Your. poem reads partly as a narration and partly as a tragic warning to children, I suspect that most parents, myself included, have at least one save’ story like Eric’s comment This poem is a good one to publish at the southern hemisphere spring!
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In spite of very tight regulations and frequent inspections by the county accidents still happen Jane.
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Nice one, Ian. Pools scare the heck out of me when children are near.
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It’s a big responsibility to have one and a big expense to maintain too Cindy. 🙂
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Superb poem Ian.
Chantal
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Thank you so much for taking the time to ready my poem Chanty 🙂
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Found the link >>> https://youtu.be/QeQuqoG5Cd8
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Not too long ago, i watched a video clip of a kid who wandered past a fence and dropped into the pool. The father, who watching him, ran out, jumped over the fence right to the pool and rescued his son. All of 2 seconds or less. What a save!
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Parents have a real responsibility. They have to earn and thus not be at home all the time and the Mother has to have eyes that look forward, sidewise and back as kids can get into trouble within seconds. Parenting is not for the faint hearted Eric 🙂
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