January 2016

In icy fields.

Is water flowing in the tank?

Will they huddle together, warm bodies pressing?

(Is it the year of the goat or the sheep?

Scholars debating Chinese zodiac,

follower or leader.)

O lead them to a warm corner,

little ones toward bulkier bodies.

Lead them to...

Where do you suppose
they’ve gone the bees now


that you don’t see them
anymore four-winged


among flowers     low
sparks in the clover


even at nightfall
are they fanning have


they gone another
place blued with pollen


stuck to their bristles
waiting beyond us


spring dwindle is what
we call it...