BY THE BEE-STUDY TANK 1962

A BOY AND GIRLS AT SCHOOL BY THE BEE-STUDY TANK IN 1962

I see you
by the bee-study tank
in the school corridor
you are with another girl

peering at the busy bees
seen through the thick glass
I study your thin frame
and dark hair

the way you stand
your thin finger tracing
the movement of bees
mostly females

I say
workers and the queen's
the big one
in the middle there

you turn and gaze at me
the other girl just stares
then walks away
her plumpish figure

going off with a sway
you look around us
then touch my hand
your thin fingers

investigating mine
other students pass us by
Yochana
your friend Angela says

I wondered where you were?
I see you're with Benedict
she adds
eyeing me unhappily

yes we're studying
the bees
you say
releasing my hand

unseen(we hope)
by Angela
o of course Nature Boy
Angela says

not sure
your mother
would approve
she adds

I look at you
and you say to Angela
if you tell my mother
I’ll not talk to you again

I look at the bees
creeping on the glass
so busy
so activated

I was only saying
Angela says
reddening in the face
not my business

whom you see
she says
then walks away
you watch her go

then hold my hand again
and you say
that's the queen
but I gaze

at your eyes
and frame
the loveliest
that I’ve seen.