Yesterday
i watched a bee
humming away in a flower’s ear
soft dewy petal ear
no wax
just pollen
just like i watched my own Mother
hum in mine yesterday
soft not so dewy human ear
Yesterday
i watched my Mother 
humming in the kitchen
all smiles
all rhythm
Her foot tapping
Her apron swinging
Her wooden spoon
going rap
rap
rap
on the sides of the
metal pot
Yesterday
i watched my Mother
and my Mother
was happy

Today
a bee stung me
on the palm of my hand
it hurt
but my Mother made it better
just like always
Today
i watched my Mother
wring Her hands
in fear
Today
i watched my Mother cry
and i?
i sat helpless in my crib
for my tiny weak body
imprisons
this raging spirit
who yearns to soothe She
who soothes me
Today
i watched my Mother
and my Mother watched the door

Tomorrow
i watched a bee
laid down gently upon a petal
unmoving
not-moving
and my Mother told me
it was just playing
even though
its eyes
no longer looked like mine
even though
it no longer hummed
just like my mother
used to hum in my own
soft not so dewy
human ear
Tomorrow
i watched a dead bee

Tomorrow
i watched my Mother
cowering in a corner
Tomorrow
i watched a stranger
stumble around the kitchen
my mother told me
he is not your father
my mother lied
to me
Tomorrow
i watched he-is-not-your-father
his hand went smack
smack
smack
no smiles
no rhythm
just an empty beer bottle
i do not like this stranger
i do not like he-is-not-your-father
for
it was he
who made my mother
cry

i watched
and i watch
and i will watch
and someday
i will be
a better man
than he-is-not-your-father
ever was