bumblebee

Bumblebee lit
on my finger, antennae
whispering against my flesh.

Six feet landed,
soaking sunshine's warmth
from my bare skin.

Circled once,
did Bumblebee, circled twice,
and rested for full minutes

then circled more,
as I lowered my tiring arm to
table's edge.

'Please,' I prayed, 'please
may he leave without stinging me,
but he doesn't need to rush.'

In the heat, all things
move ponderously, even tiny
yellow-and-black bee hairs,

and delicate black
wings. Bumblebee stayed near
my ring for a while,

apparently
satisfied with his new resting-place.
He tickled a bit.

Then, as my watching
gaze drunk in the details of him,
he quadruple-stepped,

and departed
as unexpectedly as he came.
And the hot sun blinded.