As I walked into ‘her patch’,
she sped away
from the watering bowl,

but only to rest, for a moment,
on the netting pole
in a vege bed
close by,
beady eyes
intently
watching me ..
 
Stopping,
I invited her back
to her bath,
a mere meter away,
just a soft sideways glance,
holding my breath

she returned
bravely,
and splattered
and splashed
ducking under,
fluttering and
spluttering
time and time again
drops flying
everywhere
not taking
that much notice
of me …

joy and delight,
a moment of freedom
and safety
together