A humming of head & thorax, an assembly
line to forage leaf    drop    clip    crush    mold
combine.  The youngest plod around inside    the oldest
bustle about outside    the smallest hitch rides
on grass & leaf while the largest pull—
a green palanquin, insect-powered.

Umber bodies form hibiscus on pavement, squirming
center, slow-rolling filament, pitchy anther—no bees hum here.
Later the rough circle narrows into a bamboo stalk
with tough stems    knobby nodes    occasional
branches marching in midday heat.

Under oak, honeydew slice sweats as bronzed
legs & antennae explore, then morph into a jagged gash
in its flesh, a scar that brings out its celadon glaze in evening’s
powdered blue.  Then they trickle up & down    rattle
acorns    prowl the pulpy temple of leafy chambers
& strange symbols in cleft & furrow.

During the day, claws move in slow motion to liquid
gold beams of sun, as if ocean-bound, sway of tide, kiss of salt.
Formicidae irony—in moonlight they move quickly
scuttle    lift    scuttle    rolling grass blades
into jade orbs, mandibles clicking time.