I saw a honey bee
On the ground, it
Looked as if asleep;
Dead but whole and
Complete. To express
my respect I watched
the sun set next
to it—two meters in be
-tween. Then as the sun
Sunk in heat, the bee sunk
Under several
boys’ feet, Mashed
with ferocity, hormones,
inferiority.
They stomped as if grinding
their teeth. And I just stayed
On my seat, made sure I heard
All the laughs and bone
Crunching of the bee,
made Sure I was poisoned with
this red fiery scene:
They beating the bee
Me beating me
Bee beating they and
Bee beating me.
The boys walked away
As if victorious, the bee
Stayed there
Glorious.