treading water, i wait for her to jump
suspended between pontoon, sun                 rebounding blue



i find a bee, wings lashed to water’s surface
                                unable to fly or drown, happens to us all



soon marooned on my daughter’s foam board
                                 damp forelegs forlornly towelling down



seems there are too many hot days and watery errands 
in this place
                  overhead, the helitankers with their long tongues



i have pulled many bees from the indian ocean 
one aesopic day, caught in traffic
they will come                             carry me high over the city



she jumps and the yellow board drifts      
                                              is retrieved by another swimmer 
careful, a feathery kneed passenger



                                              he hears watch out, there’s a bee 
flips the board over and smiles, don’t worry             i’m okay