Today

as if no tomorrow, its pollen belly powder yellow, lifting off one two three

twos-and-threes, brigade or collective, bees circling, covering their misses, on to the next red button, checking, going back

perfect timing: me on the sand path, they where they are, doing the nature

let’s take it, go with it, the breast-high spritely tide, a sparkle to crown a queen, flawless warm chill

her private inner life I’ll look into, through, if she’ll let me, a she, my sea, maybe today she’ll let me

they’re doing the nature, I watch, and to the buzz listen, and stay, let’s say, not too far away, but silent and still as a trial court before verdict, that unified held breath, all my parts, eyes to feet, wanting bees to know I’m not here

I’ve written about the sea since my start, and not learned much since

except that she continues, fortunately, to be

and if a tide is coming or going or tucked in a flip turn

and the offing, I know now, is never closer than far

Denise Bergman is the author of five books of poetry. The Shape of the Keyhole takes place in 1650 as a falsely accused woman awaits her hanging. Three Hands None delves into the night and aftermath of an assault. A Woman in Pieces Crossed a Sea centers on the making and endurance of “symbol” in the Statue of Liberty. The Telling was generated by a refugee’s lifelong secret. Seeing Annie Sullivan is based on the early life of Helen Keller’s teacher. Denise conceived and edited City River of Voices, an anthology of urban poetry. More at denisebergman.com.