Notes About The Poem

A Bee

a bee
invaded our car in
nineteen fifty four
while we were driving
to the jersey shore
flew in my open back window
of our two tone ford custom
pea green top black bottom
hurtling down the highway
four kids two adults
doing sixty

our kid arms outside the windows
flailing and pushing the wind
no cares
must have looked from above
like some giant green beetle
lotsa wiggly white legs
once the bee was inside
it was havoc
screaming and screeching
kids curled up in fear
in the rear

mom and dad barking out orders
we knew it had a stinger
it wanted to get us
stab us
never really saw its sticky spear
scary when needles are near
it buzzed all about
for a minute or two
up to the windshield
back near my ear
mom tried to thwack it
with her home journal
but missed

it disappeared
we all wanted to kill it
that is what you do with bees
waited and waited
no bee

then in a fury it came out
from under the front seat
hiding in a sea of springs
plotting for its moment
its chance to escape
we must have gone twenty miles
with it in our car
so out it came
buzzed a bit
then flew out my window
gone

we all took a sigh of relief
the villain excommunicated
after the yapping stopped
silence for a few miles
then i got a slow sadness
how will it find its home
it was very very far away
i thought if i was the bee
maybe i would feel lost
i remember when mom 
found me in wanamakers
in toys

mom leaned over the front seat
and said
his home is everywhere
huh
that was enough for me
even though i had no clue
what it all meant what to do
my first lesson in empathy
taught by a teeny thing so wee
a bee







free verse  74 lines  326 words
Pen illustration G. Gaul
Copyright © | Year Posted 2022

Poem

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Goldsmith Avatar
January 1, 2023 at 11:01 AM
Back with "Congratulations" on this New win. A lovely write/story. Hope you had a great/blessed Christmas. Have a Blessed New Year 2023.......................
Gaul Avatar
January 2, 2023 at 7:19 PM
Blesst by having a poet like you as a friend. You always see the best in all of us and I see the loving kindness in you. Be well in 2023, have wonderous year.
Alex Avatar
January 1, 2023 at 5:02 AM
A great experience beautifully narrated and sung. Congratulations! Wish You A Prosperous New Year!
Gaul Avatar
January 2, 2023 at 7:25 PM
I so appreciate your thoughts and comments. Have a great 2023!
Mcintosh Avatar
January 1, 2023 at 2:13 AM
Empathy is, surely, priceless – God bless you and Congratulations. Love, Gina
Gaul Avatar
January 2, 2023 at 7:23 PM
Gina, empathy is a big part of Christian life, thank you for acknowledging its signal importance. Have a great new year and thank you for your visit.
Miller Avatar
July 19, 2022 at 2:53 AM
Congratulations on your winning, so creative, and well-written poem
Gaul Avatar
July 19, 2022 at 5:22 AM
Kind of you to comment. Thanks for your visit.
Goldsmith Avatar
July 18, 2022 at 2:10 PM
Congratulations on your win. "a bee" is a lovely write/story. I love this one. Have a blessed day writing away...................
Gaul Avatar
July 19, 2022 at 5:23 AM
Your visits and comments are always appreciated.
Caliri Avatar
July 17, 2022 at 11:20 AM
Excellent work placing 12th out of 55 in my contest! I loved the personal story, that really set yours apart!
Gaul Avatar
July 18, 2022 at 5:57 AM
Thank you for your most thoughtful and encouraging response to a contestant who placed last in your contest. I am impressed that you demonstrated such empathy to a poet who you really don't know, something like the bee in my simple poem. Thanks for taking the time in what is mostly a thankless task, hosting.
Staton Avatar
February 6, 2022 at 5:44 AM
Enjoyed reading! That happened to me several times. The last time was this past year. Had us pulled over on a strange road, far, far, from home. You should have seen me before I hopped out the car - a total wreck! I'm allergic to the little creatures with the tremendous sting. Thanks for the walk down memory lane as I can laugh about it now.
Gaul Avatar
February 6, 2022 at 7:11 AM
You are so connected to this. Nature and us are all in this together, this experience and similar ones. Thank you for your comment and sharing. Namaste.
Alex Avatar
February 1, 2022 at 8:16 PM
Great invasion and relief. Beautiful writing. Congratulations!
Gaul Avatar
February 2, 2022 at 4:07 AM
Was hoping it might create a little buzz. Thanks for the visit.
Rodrigues Avatar
January 31, 2022 at 8:30 AM
What a fantastic story, Greg! Life interrupted, pondered, taken personal and compassionately so! A fave!
Gaul Avatar
January 31, 2022 at 11:38 AM
Kim, so nice of you to buzz around and land so gently on my poem. Most kind.
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