Eerie Ocelli (Not The Bee’s Knees)
Eerie Ocelli
I’ve heard of Sandro Botticelli,
but never before of bees’ ocelli.
(They’re organs on their whatchmacallits
that collect light like painters’ pastel palettes.)
I suppose a Venus on a half-shell
is nothing like a full-size bluebell,
if, rather than the occasional fresco,
you live your entire life al fresco.
But, to me, they look like eyes–those spots–
that affix me as I take my shots,
into a blotter-sheet memory
that lines some nearby apiary.
I vow to lay low.
*********************************************
The above is a photo I took this weekend- those bright spots on the bee’s head are ocelli (I think). There are three; you can just make out the pale third. I thank the bee for the pose!
Explore posts in the same categories: poetry, UncategorizedTags: "Eerie Ocelli", Bees' eyes, bumbe bee with ocelli catching light image, manicddaily, poem about bees eyes, Sandro Botticelli is not a busy bee
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ManicDDaily 
July 9, 2012 at 9:31 pm
This is a hoot!
July 9, 2012 at 9:52 pm
Thanks – it was such a weird picture. All I’ve done is crop it, honestly, as the bee got a bit lost in the flowers, but not too much! Crazy. k.
July 10, 2012 at 8:35 am
I think you’re being too modest: you put your fluence on the bee and arranged the pose. The poem was as cleverly arranged as well.
July 10, 2012 at 9:15 am
Thanks, David! I had been following the bee for a little while, sort of paparazzi like, so perhaps it got finally irritated. The poem, a bit silly, but wanted something to go along with the pic. k.
July 10, 2012 at 10:34 am
Fun poem, nice rhyming scheme !!
July 10, 2012 at 10:38 am
Thanks. k.
July 10, 2012 at 12:50 pm
collecting light!. they look like eyes to me too. thanks for the scientific rendering in your fun poem, and for the pronunciation help in the first lines. two of my favorites …. rather than the occasional fresco, you live your entire life al fresco.
July 10, 2012 at 2:18 pm
glad you could get him to pose for you as well…was not familiar witht eh terminology either…paparazzi of bees…smiles…
July 10, 2012 at 2:19 pm
they do rather look like eyes…
July 10, 2012 at 7:00 pm
i’m obsessed by bees and wasps and all those zippy critters…
how they percieve the world? … imagine! – it must be crazy cool…
love the vibe on this – neat rythmn and wordplay that made me smile
and bask 😀
July 10, 2012 at 11:09 pm
Funny, the bee is like saying “Hey!” It looks huge. Never knew their eyes (“ocelli”) had an effect like that. Very cool poem and rhyme. 🙂
July 10, 2012 at 11:20 pm
Thanks! I don’t think the ocelli are the eyes exactly but these places above the eyes that collect light – something like that. This was sunlight not flasth. Thanks. k.
July 10, 2012 at 11:43 pm
haha he’s watching you!!! for sure! great poetry!
July 10, 2012 at 11:49 pm
very cool..they look like eyes indeed..collect light like painters’ pastel palettes….i like..
July 11, 2012 at 8:14 am
Nice read. Love the set up line.
July 11, 2012 at 6:38 pm
So awesome to see those once in a million moments caught.
It’s either a hello, or a get the camera away yell, but it’s sublime either way.
Really enjoying the poem as well. Has a great flow to it.
July 11, 2012 at 8:08 pm
Thanks so much. It was pretty crazy – I had, I have to admit, been stalking the bee! k.
September 19, 2012 at 6:49 pm
Reblogged this on andreatmbrownm.