JVD

At the zoo we saw
two polar bears playing
in dark frosty water,
mimicking combat
with slow lazy cuffings
and tender bites.

They looked so happy
dunking each other,
rolling so slowly,
first one on top,
then the other, both
buoyant as corks,

I thought, how good
if you were like that,
to play like that
in dark water,
joyously gentle
on cold afternoons.