Bee Poem by Patrice Vecchione
Patrice Vecchione has written a lovely poem about spring, bee pollinating, and beekeeping. The poem was inspired by interactions with Lynne and the bees of Amen Bee.
Near Spring
Late at night in a rain-soaked orchard
of sweet almond, in the central valley town
of the baths, you unload the white boxes of bees
from the wide back of your flatbed truck,
set them down in rows beside the twisting trees,
so in the morning the bees will begin turning
the white and pink blossoms into fruit.
Handing me the smoker, you show me how
to heat the bees into making honey in their hives.
Momentarily unafraid, I lean up to the boxes
where nectar rises, floats into the misty air.
Tell me, is this a heat to run from, or do I turn
toward the honeying, the sudden beating
of wings, the hum and buzz of the inner hive?
– Patrice Vecchione
Patrice is a poet, nonfiction writer, and teacher. Patrice Vecchione’s new book is My Shouting, Shattered, Whispering Voice: A Guide to Writing Poetry & Speaking Your Truth. You can find out more about Patrice on her website.
Also in Bee Journal
Honey Sleuths Clamping Down on China’s Fake Honey
Bee Pollen – A Summary
Last month we looked at bee pollen: what it is; how it is collected by both the bee and the beekeeper; and some of the ways it is used by both bees and humans. This month, we will explore the constituents that make-up bee pollen and some of the potential nutritional and medicinal benefits for you and me.
