Imaginary Pond

Equipped with one woman, seven men, rocks, rebar, 

a tape measure, a carpenter’s square, 

& a yellow string wound around a willow stick

draw an imaginary line from the midpoint of the front door 

to the midpoint of a soon-to-be-graveled path 

on the far side of an imaginary pond.

Along the far edge of the patio outside the front door

mark equal perpendicular distances from the imaginary line 

to the starting points of the imaginary pond’s oblique-angled sidewalls.

Parallel to the first, draw a second imaginary line

from the starting point of a sidewall to the near edge of the acequia 

(the irrigation canal that brings snow melt 

from the Andes to our community vineyards)

that runs along between the far edge of the imaginary pond 

& the soon-to-be-graveled path.

Mark the distance from the far end of the second imaginary line 

to the far end of one oblique-angled sidewall. Repeat 

(some of the above) to pinpoint a second sidewall.

Note that the pond sidewalls (one day, will) 
meet the far patio edge at identical angles. For the moment, imagine 

crossing a narrow wooden bridge from the far edge of the patio 

over a pond, over a canal, to a graveled path. 

Start from inside the front door.

Keep an eye out for the imaginary toad.