COLONY COLLAPSE DISORDER

Bees are dying mysteriously. A bee hive is one of the most sterlie places on earth and a sick bee will not contaminate the hive, taking itself off to die elsewhere. Audio version: http://snd.sc/HFpzOX

 

(Deep in hive where bee poet is addressing his sad Queen)

 

           Can but try

Do no good

          Can but try

They will not listen

          Can but try

They can not listen

          For the hive

My hive is dying

          For other hives

Will be no other hives

          Don't cry royal Queen

Who are you?

           But a bee

A dying bee

          Your loyal bee

My poet bee

          Say the word my Queen

I need you here

          What can I do?

Comfort me

           I will come back

No, you know you won't

          Perhaps not

We're dying, poet, all dying

          Don't cry Queen!

What else is there?

          Try to make them listen

They have no ears, poet

          I must try Queen

Then go poet, if go you must, fly to them!

          With your blessing?

With my blessing poet

          Gracious Queen!

I will miss you poet

          I will be back Queen

 No, poet, no

          But I must...go

I know, I know

          I will find one who will listen

I hope you do poet, hope you do

          Farewell Queen, may Summer's kiss...

Farewell sir poet, go. Go!

(exit)

 

(Deep in man's mind staring at face in mirror while shaving)

 

Right ear lobe to chin

Draw razor across face

To chin: three strokes...one, two...three

Rinse razor

Five or six lesser strokes beneath lower lip

Buzzing?

Left ear lobe to chin

One smooth stroke of blade

What IS that buzzing?

Pay attention

No nicks, not today of all days

Focus man

That EFFING buzzing!

February, frosty?

Central heating woken a sleeper

Rinse razor

Five strokes beneath nose

 

(Man flinches on glimpsing flight of insect in corner of eye, but being late, persists with shave until... Bee lands on head of electronic toothbrush standing on glass shelf beneath mirror. Man studies bee in amazement.)

 

How baroque!

And how you dance, sir bee, as bees are want.

Is that not so?

The dance of a bee?

Is this what I see?

The dance of a bee?

And how your antenna do twitch!

As if...

As if what?

Come on bee!

As if what?

 

(Bee falls from the toothbrush onto sink beside brushed steel tap, lands on back, struggles, lays still, struggles anew, turns a circle on his back, dies.)

 

Unbelievable!

What was that about bee?

 

(Man, now late, gingerly picks bee up by wingtip, holds up to examine closely.)

 

Amazing.

The death ... of a bee.

 

(Man drops bee into toilet, flushes toilet, looks round for towel, dries face.)

 

Audio version on soundcloud: http://snd.sc/HFpzOX

 

Author's Note

Audio verssio: http://snd.sc/HFpzOX

Reviews

[Bubo]

Orlando
awesome brain you have..........this is brilliant.............I felt sorry for the bee's in the first part, such sorrow........

Comfort me

I will come back

No, you know you won't

Perhaps not

We're dying poet, all dying

Don't cry Queen!

And I am not a fan of bee's, I had no idea hives were in trouble!
Then the twist of the distracted shaving man, who ponders, reflects no more as the bee is flushed away............I had no idea bee's won;t return to the hive if sick. So he came to die.
Such a sad piece, and thats amazing you made me think, and feel for a bee, feel sad!!
I will no doubt see bee's differently now.........
wonderful work.......loved the way you set this out, like a story, a play..........short life of a bee.

[Father Mojo]

i don't know what to say except that i am truly sad. i found myself wanting that damned bee to succeed, knowing that it was all going to end in futility. so close to a connection; and yet, no connection at all. so true to life. i guess, in the end, thee is nothing but the dance and hope.

[Fran Marie]

How very interesting and well penned~
THanks for sharing this~Fran Marie

[TL Boehm]

Only YOU. You know, I heard recently of CCD - although I keep having trouble with the exact nomenclature of the disorder, (until now, after this I will remember) but we don't consider such small things as bees...not realizing that in places in China they pollinate pears with feathers, because those little stinging buzzing guys are gone....
And your poem in its witty way, alludes so brilliantly to this, in the midst of our normalcy...when the bee goes what will happen to the people?

[Rhiannon Dragonraine]

Interesting as your writing always is; I am not sure how I feel about the last part but I do absolutely adore the first part of this peice; I love the humanization, the loyalty and hope of the poet and the despair and compassion of the Queen. You see things in such an extraordinary way it is wonderful i am so glad that you write and share your viewpoint with the world it is indeed a blessing. good job.

[E. M. Murren]

What a marvelous work to wake up to on a Monday morning. So beautiful. Bees are so important to the world. Going into a bee's mind is to creative. I just love this.

[Ken Simm.]

As you say. amazing. Remarkable composition of events described in a very rich but accesible manner.

[Siddartha Beth Pierce]

What a lesson - I had no idea bees were so that they will leave the hive if they are ill. How intriquing. Very interesting undertaking. Thank you for sharing.
Light,
Siddartha

[thecoolone52]

very orginal... didnt know about the whole bee deal..... everyone always freaks out when bees fly around... but myself i dont care cause they dont sting you if your not being a dick to them... ive learned that... because ive never been stung... because ive never swatted at them

[Yaooooooo]

Overall a good read, keep up the good work and feel free to send me a request when ever..
One!

[Chloe..Across the Unive..]

Very brilliant poetry.. it is a sad and lovely conversation of the Queen bee and the bee.. very good .. i enjoyed!

Chloe
xoxo