Toad Calling for Rain

Toad Calling for Rain

Dr Abe V Rotor

Toad (Bufo marinus/ Rhinella marina) aestivating at the Living with 

Nature garden. San Vicente, Ilocos Sur.  Photo by the author 2026 

Imagine hearing a growl once, twice,

then as the first rain begins to fall,

the growl grows distinct, longer, louder,

joined into a chorus from some hall;

now a cacophony of nature rejoicing -

it's the monsoon's early beginning.

Restored 18th century open well.

Do trolls live at the bottom of an old well?

Dare find out yourself in the middle of the night,

in total darkness save a flickering candlelight,

and not believing in mythology and fairytale,

but familiar instead of the ugly, friendly toad

sleeping through summer in some hidden sod,

waking up with the first rain, breaking the spell. 

*Toads are large, poisonous amphibians, omnivorous and nocturnal, feeding on insects, small animals, vegetation, and even human food scraps. They absorb water through their skin and require moist environments to survive, inhabiting urban areas, grasslands, rainforests, and coastal regions Cane toads reproduce rapidly, laying 5,000 to 30,000 eggs in still or slow-moving water, with tadpoles developing into toads within weeks. Britannica/Internet