A Lamentation of Bees

Gold cherry

By marandina

Tue, 13 Sep 2022
  • 3528 reads
22 comments
 

Audio version at: https://soundcloud.com/user-62051685/a-lamentation-of-bees-mp3

 

A Lamentation of Bees

Shafts of sunlight glinting,

autumn breezes blow cold,

cast in tree shadows long,

lavender sways like chimes.

Striped brokers of sentience,

born of clade anthophila,

bees glide amongst bushes,

apicultured metaphors for life.

Homer’s Hymn to Hermes

evoked powers of divination,

agents of goddess Demeter,

seers for an uncertain future.

Diminutive, drone leviathans,

so integral to our survival,

weaving auric tapestries,

making patterns in pollen.

Melodic garden flights,

esoteric hub of industry,

a symbiosis for the ages,

preserved in apiarist amber.

 

Image free to use at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bee#/media/File:Bumblebee_05.JPG

Certificate U
Poem
Miscellaneous Poems
Nature

Comments

Submitted by onemorething on

Very lovely indeed. Always appreciate an ode to bees.

 

Submitted by onemorething on

This wonderful poem is Pick of the Day. Do share on Facebook and Twitter. 

 

Submitted by marandina on

Oh thank you, so much Rachel. That's wonderful news. Made up. Hoping the ongoing, raised profile of the plight of bees gets things back to where they should be. We need them! Thanks again. Paul :) 

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

great to see bee on front page :0) Had to look up auric, I love the idea of a tapestry of living auras, unseen

 

Submitted by marandina on

Thanks for reading, Di. Hoping you are well in beautiful Scotland. Paul :)

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

A brilliant choice! Big congratulations marandina

 

Submitted by marandina on

Thank you for reading it, insert/Claudine. Paul 

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

I liked the picture of Diminutive, drone leviathans !

and Melodic garden flights, esoteric hub of industry, a symbiosis for the ages

but I got lost in the mythological references, though thought it referred at least in part to the need to try to look after these pollinators. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by marandina on

Ah thanks for reading, Rhiannon. More on the mythology re "Homer's Hymn to Hermes" at https://grbs.library.duke.edu/article/viewFile/2961/5819.

The Goddess Demeter reference is explained more by: The Goddess Demeter is the Goddess of the Grain, of the Harvest and Abundance. As such, bees are vital to Her domain. Bees help to pollinate the plants and crops. Without the bees, there would be no harvest. Priestesses of Demeter were called Melissai or bees.

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

A true beauty of a poem Paul. You captured the essence of bees perfectly. Long may they reign.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by marandina on

For sure, Jenny. Bees are the best of us. Thanks for reading. Paul :)

 

Submitted by celticman on

used to capture them in jars, you do too, but in words. 

 

Submitted by marandina on

Ah, thanks for reading, CM.

[Looks like Celtic manager off to Brighton! https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/next-brighton-manager-celtic-edge-07573...

 

Submitted by celticman on

no chance, he's not downsizing. 

 

Submitted by hilary west on

 A great poem to bees.I liked the classical references too. Elevated and sublime !!!

hilary      smiley

 

 

 

Submitted by marandina on

Thanks for reading, Hilary. And that's kind of you to say. Take care. Paul 

 

Submitted by Nolan on

A few words I don't know, but it is a good poem. Our African bees are apparently of high regard and I'm allergic as well. A bee sting can kill you.

They're probably more poisonous than spiders, but a big spider is very scary don't know really why but looks like a horrible little monster. A bee looks ok. Thinking then of Mohammed Ali, float like a butterfly sting like a bee. Sorry for digressing like that.

Keep well & Nolan

 

Submitted by marandina on

Thanks for reading, Nolan. Different countries, different types of bee, I guess. The African species sounds interesting. Bees over spiders every day of the week. All the best. Paul 

 

Submitted by agnosticnun on

Oh, lovely, sweet as honey. Congratulations on the golden cherries. 

Kristi

Submitted by marandina on

Ah thanks for reading it, Kristi. Paul 

 

Submitted by TJW on

When asked why I don't eat honey because it doesn't harm bees I said that it ain't about harm or pain to the bees, it's about exploiting for ourselves what the bees make for themselves.  That's bullshit.  Your quarter words are worth each penny.  Ain't like you're showing off.  You're being selective, prizing every word.  You think a lot when you write, don't you?  I just grab the nearest envelope or receipt or whatever and write.  Envy your discipline.

V/R 

Jack 

 

Submitted by marandina on

Thanks for reading, Jack. Instinctive is good - keep 'em coming! Paul