POETRY

LATE TO BED AND EARLY TO RISE TO SEARCH FOR ROCKS APPROPRIATE TO THE WATER DISH OF OUR HONEY BEES. OUR SPACE IS NO BEE-GLADE, BUT SPRING SWARMS HUMMED AROUND US ANYWAY. SUMMER'S HEAT AND PHASES OF DROUGHT CALL FOR A WATER TROUGH FOR OUR HIVES. POETRY BECOMES THESE TINY FEMINIST STINGERS (ONLY IF AGITATED) IF ONE COMPARES THE COMPONENTS OF ITS POETRY’S DEFINITION TO THEM - RHYTHM, RHYME, EXACT AND CREATIVE USE OF LANGUAGE, LOGIC, ROMANCE AND A COGENT THOUGHT. WOULD THAT MORE HUMANS WOULD 'HIVE' UP WITH A PROPER PERSPECTIVE ON LIFE. BEES' MASTERY OF HONEY-MAKING LEADS ME TO ASK FOR A FRESH ANSWER TO THE QUESTION, WHAT IS SPRING? I QUOTE FROM GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS, A MASTERFUL POET, WHOSE ANSWER TO THE QUERY IS, "GROWTH IN EVERY THING."

FLESH AND FLEECE, FUR AND FEATHER,
GRASS AND GREENWORLD ALL TOGETHER,
STAR-EYED STRAWBERRY-BREASTED
THROSTLE ABOVE HER NESTED

CLUSTER OF BUGLE BLUE EGGS THIN
FORMS AND WARMS THE LIFE WITHIN;
AND BIRD AND BLOSSOM SWELL
IN SOD AND SHEATH OR SHELL.

WHEN DROP-OF-BLOOD-AND-FOAM-DAPPLE
BLOOM LIGHTS THE ORCHARD-APPLE
AND THICKET AND THORP ARE MERRY
WITH SILVER-SURFED CHERRY

AND AZURING-OVER GREYBELL MAKES
WOOD BANKS AND BRAKES WASH WET LIKE LAKES
AND MAGIC CUCKOOCALL
CAPS, CLEARS, AND CLINCHES ALL-"

I CONCLUDE,

BEES' NUMINA IS POETRY SUPREME,
SEDATE, SOLICITOUS ROUND THEIR QUEEN
HIVE'S FOR SWEETEST COMB,
SPRING’S UP ANEW AT HOME.