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| The Beekeeper Cat Schappach @catschappach |
The bees have all left this country.
But the equinoctial garden does not know.
Its buds beckon with cupped hands.
The maladroit keeper is scrubbing the hive.
He picks at old wax like an eczema scab.
This country has lost all its queens.
But the hegemons do not seem to notice.
The flowers shrivel, suspecting their infertility.
And its women are arranged in agricultural order.
Womb first, and head last, the last honey spilled.
This amazing work of art was a gift from the amazingly talented Cat Schappach.
Such extraordinary images in this poem, Kerry!💖 I am especially drawn to "The flowers shrivel, suspecting their infertility." It puts me in the mind of the current climatic condition and the fact that bees of all types are in decline worldwide.
ReplyDeleteThe decline of bees is a telltale sign of climate change and the effect of pollution of our planet! Horrifying!
DeleteI am glad you felt the impact of the imagery. Thanks, Sanaa.
How cleverly you have woven both prompts. Subtle and insightful
ReplyDeleteThis is a single prompt, but I did use the image as the basis for my poem. Thank you.
DeleteI loved your poem, Kerry, two prompts for the price of one, with vivid bee imagery and a maladroit keeper. The second stanza grabbed me, bringing to mind The Handmaid’s tale, with the queens all lost, the infertility and the woman arranged womb first and head last, and the tragedy of the spilled honey.
ReplyDeleteA word like 'maladroit' is too good to pass by. Thank you. Kim.
Deletedark times for bees
ReplyDeletenice work
Indeed.. and women too!
DeleteThere is only one queen per hive. If it dies, another must be introduced. I keep bees. All of the powerful men have always worked to keep women under their thumbs. Bees, birds...all are declining yearly. We are slowly killing ourselves.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Toni. I am pleased you pointed out the oppression of women, which is what the theme of the poem.
DeleteGreed and political blindness will surely put paid to our Earth soon but climate change is not acknowldged all the while profit can be made by our stupidity.
ReplyDeleteFair commentary! Thank you.
DeleteI love how you blended the prompts into a
ReplyDeleteserious but elegant write.
It is disastrous and tragic if bees are eliminated from the scene. No other little creatures can do what they have been doing to perfection
ReplyDeleteHank
Bees are most important to the environment! Thanks, Viv.
DeleteToni's comment echos my thoughts ... where are all the good men? The art from your talented friend is awesome ... Happy weekend.
ReplyDeleteThere are good men out there, Helen but the Hegemons are also prevalent unfortunately.
DeleteA sweet little knot of accusation and fire, Kerry. It sums up the entire human endeavor of extracting from nature what only can come from within.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, B. Thanks for coming over to read.
DeleteThis is a stinging metaphor for all we are doing to the the world (both nature and ourselves), and the keeper has no clue why the apples are gone from the orchard.
ReplyDeleteA stinging metaphor! I like that!
DeleteI'm impressed at how much sting for multiple issues you packed into this piece. It works as a lament for both the dying bees and the erosion of women's rights. The setting, balanced as it is between the light and dark time of the year is the only thing that speaks of a slight hope (things could go either way), but we must put determined action behind that hope, or all will be lost.
ReplyDeleteThank you for such a lovely comment, Rommy.
DeleteBeautiful approach to a world problem. Our country votes down to spending money for study and research on it. I didn't pay notice before I read (I generally try not to) and have decided that your poem outshines the picture. My thought.
ReplyDelete..
Thank you, Jim. You are kind.
DeleteBees are so essential and how can we think insecticides that kill all are beneficial... it's so crazy. This poem horrifies me as does the image - but yet it's an eye opener and a removing of the veil that we all need!
ReplyDeleteSome truths are too horrifying these days.
DeleteKerry- your words work so well with this amazing image. Wow.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Linda.
DeleteDouble poem in this one, Kerry. A great match for the drawing.
ReplyDelete