Almond Trees, Miltonian Self-Doubt, Bees, Flash Friday 55
Here are two poems about almond trees and bees – one for Samuel Peralta’s prompt at dVerse Poets Pub to write a (sort of) Miltonian sonnet; the second (a bit more off-color) consists of 55 words for the G-Man. Tell him I’m late as usual.
On the serious side, the number of bees in the U.S. has almost been cut in half over the last year. No one is sure what is decimating the bees, but powerful new pesticides (neonicotinoids) are suspected.
Out a Train Window – Almond Groves
I took a heartsick ride through Italy
one spring, the words “no one will ever
love you,” my train of thought, a never
never chug. But beside the track, a tally
of pinks scoffed, as beauty does. “What folly,”
signed fingered limbs, sure-blossomed, and whether
or not they truly cared, they severed
the bad me from the good, letting the woe-self free.
Little did I think then of how those almonds too
were tended–by the fussing strokes of bee,
the courtship of proboscis, the I’ve-won-you
of wing. Oh furred intermediary
of the fruitful –where, bees, have you now gone to?
And here’s the Flash Friday 55:
Dearth of Bees
Almond trees, where are thy bees?
Thou cannot be
sans buzz. Without fuzz
of their proboscides, who cocks thy
pistils, seeds thy nuts?
There are no ifs, ands, buts,
and though I seem to jest, I dirge
for their dear trespass sweetly
urged–oh life, where is thy sting?
Oh, bees, of thee I sing.
Tags: Almond Trees, Bees, Flash Friday 55, Heartsick in Italy poem, loss of bees poem, manicddaily, Miltonian Self-Doubt, Nothing so beautiful as an almond Tree poem, Poem about dearth of bees
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ManicDDaily 
March 29, 2013 at 7:51 pm
both charming odes to bees.
March 29, 2013 at 8:04 pm
Thanks. k.
March 29, 2013 at 8:06 pm
Oh, Karin, I love these…esp ‘I’ve won you of wing’ and the last two lines of the second poem…and I’m not even blushing..;)
March 29, 2013 at 8:06 pm
Ha! Thanks. k.
March 29, 2013 at 8:19 pm
I know a professional bee keeper and the word is not good, this is just another example of an extremely serious problem that deserves more attention.Do people actually not understand that bees are the key to pollination on this planet without them ??????
we’re in deep shit. Bats have also been taking a big hit.
A train ride through Italy ….so cool, when I was there I drove.
oh… I can’t even imagine a life without almonds … (you’ve got me shuddering)
March 29, 2013 at 8:22 pm
You are so right – life without bees would be impossible – and people are not paying attention. Hard to think that these pesticides that have niccotine in them and form part of the plant – can be very good for people. k.
March 29, 2013 at 8:35 pm
Nicely done!
March 29, 2013 at 8:48 pm
Great work here–I think beauty can certainly bring us out of ourselves, and I love the way you gave her a voice in this: “But beside the track, a tally
of pinks scoffed, as beauty does.” Very well done!
March 29, 2013 at 8:50 pm
Thanks so much. k.
March 29, 2013 at 8:50 pm
These are both quite wonderful
albeit very sad
Cheers!
JzB
March 29, 2013 at 8:53 pm
Thanks. k.
March 29, 2013 at 9:00 pm
its a rather scary thought of a world without a bee you know…they are part of the cycle of our planet…would be a pretty cool train ride to take…interesting emotional thoughts mingled in here as well…will anyone ever love me…i’v won you on wing plays well off that thought…
March 29, 2013 at 9:14 pm
What an interesting sonnet you crafted, using the parallel of the narrator experiencing a time of life being uncared for, with the flowers bereft of their bees. On the serious side, I’ve been following the story of the bees as well, and it’s a very troubling issue. I hope they find a solution, and soon.
March 29, 2013 at 9:24 pm
Thanks. And yes. It is pretty terrible, especially with the huge number of losses. (On a separate point, it is admittedly an odd sonnet! The subject perhaps too serious for the parallel but this is all I could think of. ) Thanks again. k.
March 29, 2013 at 9:48 pm
Oh Karin, you know just how to sting my heart! Whimsical, Creative, and Perfect!
Beeguiling on both prompts.
Loved your Apiary 55
Thank You for including the Friday Funfest in your list of blogging ‘to do’s’…:-)
You are always a tasty treat. Have a Kick Ass Holiday Week End…. Galen
March 29, 2013 at 10:10 pm
I enjoyed the image of beauty making fun of our self-pity. (if I understood you correctly in the beginning of your sonnet) [not following, e-mail if needed]
March 29, 2013 at 10:12 pm
How beautifully do you describe the fussing strokes of bees and put forth their plight. It’s not only the nasty pesticides but also the growing prevalence of GMOs. We need neither but we need bees and more writers like you!
March 30, 2013 at 1:20 am
i love the aspect of care here… the almond trees tended to you in your state of heartsick and the trees are tended by the bees…it’s a circle and it’s a serious issue with the decimating of the bees, how can the flowers and trees be pollinated when they’re gone..ugh..
March 30, 2013 at 7:44 am
Love both your sonnet and FF55 K ~ Your word pairng is as always creative, the I’ve-won-you of wing, and your rhyming words are spot on, sting/sing, Folly/free ~
March 30, 2013 at 7:57 am
I enjoyed each of these. The sonnet is very well crafted, and the 55 is extremely clever. It really is a sad situation about the bees. I hope the decline does not continue this year.
March 30, 2013 at 9:19 am
Both are wonderful (of course the ‘off-color’ one caught my eye)! I wonder did you start writing the first, and then bits of the second one came to you, or just how that went. :o)
March 30, 2013 at 10:02 am
Thanks, yes. The second one genuinely came second–I wanted to participate in both prompts as I like sonnets and I love Galen, but the sonnet had too many words for a 55, and I was going to cut it to do a partial sonnet, but just thought I’d do something a bit different but riffing on the same ideas. Thanks for you kind comment. k.
March 30, 2013 at 9:40 am
I always love your sonnets, k–this one very expressive of our inner need for nature to shine a light, as she always does if we open our eyes, and of course, was laughing through more somber thoughts at your 55. I also have written on this subject, and I don’t believe enough can ever be said about the way we are screwing the world up for money money money.
March 30, 2013 at 10:03 am
Yes, it’s mind boggling to me. How can people think that making niccotine an integral part of a plant’s structure not somehow affect the environment!? So crazy. The bees feel like the canary in the coal mine = hope people pay attention. Also I remember at least one of your wonderful poems re bees. I will go back and find it, thanks. k.
March 30, 2013 at 10:11 am
I enjoyed them both! Quite clever…and a significant message as well.
March 30, 2013 at 10:13 am
Thanks! k.
March 30, 2013 at 1:52 pm
Dither dither Karin – first I preferred the little jolly second – but then re and re and re-reading the first – I am so taken with it.
The message rings clear and beautiful in both. Lovely.
Anna :o]
March 30, 2013 at 2:43 pm
Thanks so much, Anna. k.
March 30, 2013 at 3:38 pm
its a reality and relevant truth.. I was stung!
March 30, 2013 at 4:20 pm
Thanks so much, Deb. A very happy Easter to you. k.
March 30, 2013 at 4:34 pm
I adore the 55…made me smile.
March 30, 2013 at 6:44 pm
Wonderful poems both, on a very important issue.
March 31, 2013 at 4:39 am
I especially like the second one – and I love the illustration.