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Michael E. Harris | + Follow Poet |
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The Pepperman and the Rhododendron Honey Quandry

I OPENED A DOOR AND FOUND MYSELF
SITTING IN THE MIDST OF CLOUDS.

THE ATMOSPHERE WAS QUITE CHILLY.
AND THE OXYGEN LEVEL EXTREMELY LOW. 
HEAVENLY IN A WAY.

I WASN'T SURE OF MY DIRECTION.
WAS I ASCENDING OR WERE THE CLOUDS 
DESCENDING?

I REMAINED SEATED AND OBSERVED 
THE SENSATION 
OF THE PEACEFUL SURROUNDINGS.

AS THE CLOUDS MOVED PAST SWIFTLY 
THE FAINT AMBROSIAL FRAGRANCE 
OF WILD FLOWERS IN BLOOM 
FILLED MY SURROUNDINGS.

AS THE SUN STARTED PEEKING THROUGH 
THE CLOUDS,
 I COULD SEE WHAT APPEARS TO BE, 
MOUNTAIN TOPS AND PEAKS.

I HAD A MAGNIFICENT VIEW 
OF THE CLOUDS EVER SO GENTLY, 
WATERING THE VEGETATION. 

AS THE SUN BEGAN TO WARM THE AIR 
AND PROVIDE LIGHT. 
I REALIZED I WAS SITTING ON A LEDGE.

AS THE CLOUDS CONTINUED TO DESCEND 
I FOUND MYSELF IN A VERY PECULIAR SITUATION. 

IF THE LEDGE I REST UPON SHOULD BREAK FREE. 
IT MIGHT BE A 3 AND A HALF 
MAYBE.... 4...THOUSAND FOOT DROP.

I WAS PARALYZED, TERRIFIED 
AND AWE-STRUCK AT THE SAME TIME.
WAS I SUPPOSED TO SIT HERE AND MEDITATE 
OR TAKE IN THIS BEAUTIFUL SCENERY?

AS THE WARM RAYS OF THE SUN RELAXED ME 
I CLOSED MY EYES AND INHALED 
WHAT I CAN ONLY DESCRIBE AS BLISS.

I HAVE NO IDEAL,
HOW FAR I MAY BE FROM THE TOP.  
I FEEL NO REASON TO FIND OUT.

SUDDENLY, 
I HEAR A BUZZING SOUND, 
AND SEE WHAT APPEARS TO BE A BEE.

IT'S HUGE. 
IT REST ON MY HAND FOR A SECOND. 
IT'S HALF THE LENGTH OF MY BABY FINGER. 

HE MAKES HIS WAY TO A BRIGHT RED 
RHODODENDRON FLOWER,
AND DOES WHAT BEE'S DO.

I NOTICED THE WALL IS COVERED 
WITH RHODODENDRON BUSHES. 
REDS, YELLOWS, PURPLES AND WHITE.

TRULY, AN AMAZING FEELING 
IT IS TO SIT HERE AND SEE AND NOT BE SEEN

I HEAR ANOTHER BUZZING SOUND. 
A LITTLE LOUDER AS IF IN NUMBER. 

I LOOK TO MY RIGHT AND UP AND SEE 
WHAT I CAN'T BELIEVE I SEE.
HOW IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE.
NOT ONE OR TWO.  
BUT, AT LEAST 30 BEE HIVES. 
HANGING THERE.

MASSIVE IN SIZE. 
BIGGER THAN THE SIZE OF MYSELF. 
MAYBE 6 FEET OR 7 FEET LONG. 
I'M NOT SURE IF I COULD WRAP 
MY HEAD AROUND THIS.

AS THE BEES CONTINUE TO LEAVE THE HIVES.
I COULD SEE A SHADOW GROW IN SIZE 
AND THE SOUND, 
IS REACHING DEAFENING LEVELS. 

SPECTACULAR, 
THEY ARE NOW EVERYWHERE. 
THEY ARE INCHES AWAY FROM ONE ANOTHER.  
IT APPEARS I AM LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW,
THROUGH A SHEAR CURTAIN 
A QUARTER MILE THICK.

FASCINATED,
BY THE MASSIVE SIZE OF THESE BEE'S. 
I HAVE TO ASK MYSELF.
IF THE WORKER BEE'S ARE THIS LARGE. 
HOW LARGE IS THE QUEEN?

SO HERE I SIT, 
ON A LEDGE. 
AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF ELEVATION, 
PONDERING, 
AS MY MADDENING CURIOSITY 
IS CREATING AN INSATIABLE DESIRE 
TO TASTE RHODODENDRON HONEY.

Michael E. Harris
01202021

Copyright © Michael E. Harris | Year Posted 2021

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