Do flies know gratitude?

The one you've just rescued

seems pleased to accept

Fate's delivery of hulking cutlery

descending girder-like

to tensioned ponding surface

where floundering supplicant

frantic-rows swallowing shallows,

clawing helpless, hapless, impotent.

Swing looming draw bridge,

salvage sodden, flurrying legs,

transfer to flagpole grass stalk –

crow's nest sanctuary, unlooked for

allow relieved one to crawl forth

forestalling drowning death.