Sometimes the wind blows
so strong
the purple lily pads half-flip over
as if about to drown

But they float back
To first position
Last position

I don’t know how those licorice stems
hold up
those
paper-
thin
pads

Some teenage trout swim
through these sparse forests
perfectly missing each stem
knowing not to interrupt
the protection of their veiny clouds

The wind ripples across the pond
like dominoes in a viral video