Nook In An Apiary Poem by Felix Bongjoh

(i)

In the shade
of a breezy beach,
waves roll
themselves out

in umbrellas
of chanting ring-bulled
gulfs
and great egrets.

But we walk
to an island
amid trimmed woods

cut off from
life's thumping engine
by the beach.

Shift the sun
in its wings.
Flip it over
in its gold jacket.

Let it wear
its crystal crown
over a white
swinging tuxedo

breathing out
stars on
a peacock's tail
splashed out

to filter and sift
sunrays into
melting rainbows
under this tree.

(ii)

Spin it in helices
of silver
butterflies.

Flapping its
hairy, feathery wings
of pollen

to land on earth
with soft hands
of sun and spread

fingers
to scratch off
crow tails
hanging in hollows
once smoothed

out into level
rolling cottonfields
hurling over

cotton light
and the beams

of a waxy shimmer
at splayed noon,

as showers
of white coral light
land and creep.

(iii)

And stars from
A topaz spray
jump
at us, all in buzzing

brown clouds
of needle-lipped
bees singing
a song to sing stinks
into flesh,
as we breathe in
the onyx clouds

of stings
rolling us into
flames

from a roaring
fire of pain

digging into flesh
and bones
in embers and ashes.

How a hollow life
of flowers
stuffs our bowls

with nectar
and mouth-watering
honey sitting

close to a quiet
volcano exploding
into pins
and shards of pain.