My grandfather kept bee hives
As a child, I would stand close
to the hum on sister's dare
till challenged, chased, chiseled
We children didn't attend his funeral
A thousand miles and lifetimes away
My dad would catch the hives
In the hollow trees we would remove
When I was with him
I could control my fear
We would work unafraid
unprotected surrounded
in swarm drunk on smoke
of burlap in bellows driven smoker
That still sits on the porch
Next to my grandmother's grandmother's
Spinning wheel
He would slide his fingers through
The comb and tie the brood into
The frames that slid into the super
Hardly noticing the stings
My job to woosh the challengers
that changed their drone to a menacing whine
belligerently pressing home determined
attacks so he could
Brush with tender touch the bees into the box
Until the magic moment he moved the queen
without ever seeing her
And all the loyal would line up
and march strait in
He didn't like when
excited pumping flamed
instead of smoked the bees
(but I did)
I buy store bought honey
Try to leave them alone
But if I have to
I armor up in veil
tape cuffs to boots and gloves
in the evening the night before
to assassinate them
Clumsy climbing with spray cans
Stuffing a rag in the mouth
to keep the chemicals potent
Cutting tree the next day
tens of thousands dead
honey ruined
because I am too afraid
to believe I could
tame the bees
the way
Grandfather
and Father
did
Author notes
Always felt outclassed by the bees
Inspired by Just Mercedes
Kovalencko's Zen http://allpoetry.com/poem/4910601
And Origami Ghost of My Father
http://allpoetry.com/poem/4904701
A contest entry
- Wild Animal Poems by Paloszoo.
900 points, ended January 2, 31 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 13 of 13
-
your words paint a picture of your thought of him, i really enjoyed it.
-
Excellent
An excellent write, has a sense of excitement about it because of a slightly irregular rhythmic pattern which works well for this poem. -
I agree that we always learn something from our past . . . this is such a rich story, well written and deep-reaching.
Thank you for sharing, and good luck in the contest. -
This is a rich and colorful vignette from your past, with a willingness to share your insight. Even for those of us who know bees only in passing (quickly, we hope) your poem touches and provokes us. Very well done.
-
Beautiful
You know you have read something good when you cannot find words to express or define it. It is a complete and beautiful.
-
-
did you mean beeeutiful?
-
-
I'm honoured to have inspired your poem with my work. I like it when poems 'seed' other poems, it seems to be a natural process!
I like your candid picture of handling bees. There is a warmth and connection through generations that is wonderful. -
We learn many things from our older generation. Our grandparents can amaze us with what they do or did.. Sometimes I think that they lived a better life then we will ever have a chance to experience.. You weaved a wonderful story with your words.. I truly enjoyed reading this. Thank you very much for sharing.
Kat -
wow, this was a bit long for me, but you told the story well! I have always had a fear of bees but have kind of moved passed it a bit
you really told such a touching story here. thank you very much for sharing it with us!! I hope that one day you don't feel so, outclassed by the bees
Angel
-
Wow! This brought back so many memories for me. My father, though allergic to bees, raised them too, and I remember everything you speak of here in this wonderful poem. A very nice write with some really amazing imagery. Blessings, Patty
-
Wow, this is just lovely. Such fantastic imagery. What a way to remember your childhood experiences. I simply love the last stanza. Very powerful. Thanks for entering my contest. I'm honored to have you show your work here!
-
He would slide his fingers through
The comb and tie the brood into
The frames that slid into the super
Hardly noticing the stings
lovely imagery.
I enjoyed this. -
Wow! I don't know how this gets me yet. The one thing you may be sure of is that it inspires a write of my own. I would rather have people, humans, like you inspire me than some dull moment that I grasp on my own. Maybe silly, maybe stealing, I don't think so. We are all inspired by each other. This story of your grandfather is wonderful. I never had bees. I was born out of sync. Mom and Dad were 40 when I arrived and even they were the babies of their gernerations. Do the math my grandparents were born in 1889, 1890, 1900, 1902. What a strange world I have grown up in being born in1960 with that heritage. I am almost connected to the Civil War. Well, I am if you go to my Great Grand Parents. Growing up all my friends parents and grand parents wre so much younger than mine. I'm rambling, I should be if your poem is worth a squat. Apparently it is. RC
Adding your comment:
1 - 13 of 13
