Joanna Gilman Hyde

September 19, 2025

Campeche, Mexico

9:08 am

I’ve taken to a morning swim

short breast strokes in Eliza’s pool

before my breakfast of guacamole

from her tree of avocados

that may or may not

fall cracked into a chlorine bath —

after yesterday’s swim I watched

fascinated

as a herd of tiny ants

moved a tiny dead lizard

from one corner to another

eventually dropping the carcass down

the far side of the pool’s flat edge —

I watched each ant

exchange the weight

of tail, legs, torso

frantically in step

latched onto their precious load —

me caring not to witness

the lizard’s final destination

after the drop of what must have seemed

a cliff-side fall

onto surrounding gravel

where all hell broke loose

as the team of tiny ants

scattered, retreated

& I gave up my watch