Teen Daydream

I swim slowly, almost languidly, But alert, careful not to let my hands Break the surface, make the faintest sound. Oppressive stillness into which a tropical bird Cries with an old man's voice. Only my eyes and nose above The smooth warm liquid. My long black hair rising and falling across The small eddies of my movement. A white gardenia behind one ear. Darn! I can never remember which ear! The Japanese are everywhere!