The Bumbly-Bee
My
life has been long, I’m an old man, you see
I’d
set up a ladder to trim an old tree,
‘Twas
late in the spring, and the tree was in blossom
As
happens when this guy behaves like a possum,
Yes
I’d put it off, and now wanted it done.
Put
on a broad hat to protect me from sun,
My
body ached, as slowly I climbed
To
finish the job at least, one more time.
I
began snipping, in warm breeze and sun
Soon
losing myself in this task I’d begun.
I’d
hardly noticed, that tree was a-buzz
With
bees of all kinds, just doing their stuffs,
Collecting
the nectar, but I didn’t care
Till
a bumblebee hovered before me, and stared.
Now
quickly I realized that I’d snipped the branch
That
bee had been on, by complete happenstance.
Perhaps
I’d offended, removing her flower
Of
course I was bigger, but she had the power,
She
circled and landed, my neck she then stung,
I
lurched and I swiped and my clippers I flung
Sensation
of falling, crushing thud to the ground
Then
darkness; then rising, then sunlight, and sound;
A
buzzing, ‘twas me, as I hovered on high
I
was free, ‘twas me, now a bee in the sky!
I
considered, that fall, man, that was some pain,
But
looking back now, I’d do it again,
To
know once more the sensation of “free,”
Of
dipping and diving as a real bumblebee!
For
a moment, I was flustered. How on earth could this bee?
A
man lay there, beneath that tree
The
ladder askance where I once had ascended
Before
I’d been stung, and my body’d ass-ended
So
that’s how it goes, I thought, that’s how I die;
But
I felt no remorse, for now, I could fly,
Euphoric
and free, ‘twas just as it was
My
wings beat softly, created the buzz,
I’d
never thought much of reincarnations
Nor
what it must feel like, this creature’s sensations,
Much
less the condition, a world once extraneous
Nor
that one’s rebirth could be instantaneous!
But
I didn’t mind at all, no no!
All
that mattered was “Go! Go! Go!”
I
could fly! I could fly! I shot straight up then
And
all I wanted was to do it again.
I
can say this now, I recall that feeling
That
even a bee has a very real ceiling,
But
I know I was there, saw a hawk passing by,
Assessed
where I was, ‘cuz it gave me the eye,
So
earthward I dove, in a widening spiral
If
this were a vid, thought I, this would go viral...
But
soon, I suppose, inevitably
I
settled down to becoming a bee.
All
I can tell is what I recollect
There
was one job to do, which was to connect
With
nectar in flower, a task to do,
For
little else mattered, no, I simply knew,
This
life spanned one season, a duty was mine
Serve
queen, serve colony, work all the time,
But
work it was not, not a care in my life,
No
money, no status, no crazy ex-wife,
True
meaning, direction, and ultimate peace
Bright
sun, soft breeze, white clouds of fleece…
But
there must be an end to this picture I paint.
For
I know, only God could make me what I ain’t.
And
He did that for me. I know just why,
For
my eyes have been opened; the Earth and the sky
These
didn’t just happen, they’re here for a reason.
The
day, the night, the planets, the seasons,
Life
as it is, both good and bad
I’ve
surely seen both. What a life I’ve had!
I
considered, then, in pain on the ground,
Forever
I’ll miss that freedom, that sound,
One
summer I lived the life of that bee.
Ever
working, then fading, less agility,
Then
quietly passing, feeling I was still free
Knowing
I would be back, hoping yet as a bee.
But
when I awakened, the sun was still high,
I
rolled myself over and stared at the sky,
What
had happened, I wondered,
Then
put it together;
I
laid there in silence, and thought, could it be
I
really had lived as a bumbly-bee?
Well
yes, yes I did. But now I’m back here;
As
a bee, for sure, there’s no pizza, no beer,
No
tobacco nor nookie nor other things human,
Just
great strength, and peace, and the blooms as they’re bloomin’-
So
now I must say, and it comes from my soul,
Humanity’s
dug itself one great big hole.
We
may live on as a fish or a bear,
Or
a deer or a whale, I really don’t care.
And
if we awaken as some other being
What
do you suppose we will find?
We’re
here, you see, as stewards behooved,
And
if we can’t play, then we’ll be removed.
So
silly we are! Imagine the way
We
carry this selfishness through each day
Seldom
seeing this world that sustains.
It’s
home to far more. I’ll say it again;
The
night is as day with stars a’ glistening,
But
you, my dears, shall not be listening.
So
record I, from this hospital bed
Knowing
someday, I will be dead
And
so shall you; and you, and you.
Let’s
get it right.
It’s
what to do.
*****
2018
Benjamin
Trayne
