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Open Poetry #47
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Watering Bees
| Open Poetry #47 |
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Watering Bees |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart 
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How the morn melts into a sizzling summer's day three figure digits in as many weeks now, glowering, plants drying upright ready to shatter at first hail. Birds gasping, small beaks agape I fill the water bucket to refresh the birdbath. Cool water streaming, even the bees come for sustenance, their liquid resources having expired. Forecast: Extreme heat advisory, no end in sight. So now we care for the bees. (c) KRJ 7-27-11 |
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| © Copyright 2011 Karilea Rilling Jungel - All Rights Reserved | |||
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ebonygirl Member Elite
since 2011-07-14
Posts 2000California U.S.A |
What pulled me into your poem was the unusual thought of watering bees. I like that your poem considers even the smallest of creatures and their comfort. ebonygirl |
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Michael
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666California |
Yup, melting out here even as I read this. I think I missed my vocational calling... I should have been an ice cream man! Painted exquisitely, as always. Michael |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Hi Sissie...we were given a respite from the heat for about a week, but it's back to normal for this time of year...hot. I like your title too...can picture you in this act of kindness. |
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JerryPat2 Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975South Louisiana |
You could do a worse thing than care for the bees, Sunshine. Thinking 'bout ya in the hot summer days. ~ Money can't buy happiness, but broke can't buy anything. ~ |
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Prasad Nataraj Senior Member
since 2008-05-29
Posts 1149Bangalore,India |
Bees are very vital for the environment balance, as per Darwin, the world will come to end once the bee’s go extinct. So water for the bees is a good idea! Fine writing. "The secret behind survival of mankind is kindness and love within our hearts" |
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Marchmadness Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 9271So. El Monte, California |
Your caring nature shows through in this poem, Karilea. We have been very lucky so far and had a rather mild summer but August and September are usually pretty hot here so I know it's coming. I feel for those who are suffering such an awful heat wave. Ida |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Thank you all so very much. Immediately after posting I thought what a childish poem this might seem to some. I'm glad I was wrong. Years ago when stung by a bee, I of course give them plenty of space. But when I was pouring out water into the bird bath, the bees came and buzzed around the water so thirstily that I was careful not to splash any water. They buzzed around slowly, carefully, hesitant. Just like the birds, they are suffering in this heat. We've had nearly four solid weeks of over 100 degree heat, and it only gets down into the 80's at night. We thank God every day that the AC is working properly. Yesterday on my way home, my car's temp showed the outside air as being at 115. But storm clouds were building. I think the sun has sucked up just about as much moisture as our little area has to give, and decided to give a little back, if only to spatter the cars and pock the dust marks enough to show.  Again, thanks all. Your comments mean a lot.  |
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Alison 
since 2008-01-27
Posts 9318Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy! |
I loved the title of your poem. Loved it. However, your poem, itself, (while also so beautifully written) makes me sad. I am so happy that you are caring for the birds and the bees (got a chuckle there). I am glad that they have you in their lives. Excellent poem - one of my very favorite. Love, Alison |
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suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
The heat is sucking the life out of me... or so I thought until this morning when I was listening to the radio and heard a few idiots saying we needed a hurricane to help with the drought and heat. *grrrr* No... we need RAIN, we need relief from triple digit temps... but no one needs hurricanes, no way, no how! LOL My PTSD and I would love to line up said idiots on shores and seawalls for the next storm surge! LOL (And this is after therapy... I was a basket case after Ike turned my life inside out... now I'm a somewhat functional basket case. *G*) I love this poem, Sunshine. The juxtaposition of the harsh conditions and the caring is wonderful! Keep watering! *S* (But could I send you my wasps? *G*) |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Suthern. No. Ali-gal.. |
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nakdthoughts Member Laureate
since 2000-10-29
Posts 19200Between the Lines |
We had a slight drizzle here today on the MD/PA line~~ still awaiting a drop in the humidity that along with those triple digit temps makes everything so unpleasant. But I must say my flowers, birds and the bees are doing well here (luckily I do have trees to help shade and water regularly). This is when I definitely wish I had central air... especially since the temperature will begin its rise again. M |
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Spiros Zafiris Senior Member
since 2002-10-20
Posts 982Canada |
..me, very much enjoyed..together poem..spiros |
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ice Member Elite
since 2003-05-17
Posts 3404Pennsylvania |
This poem reminds me of how important water is to all creatures, animate, and inanimate. Well done sweet sunshine, I will remember this when I am holding my wand above flowers, and feel less disturbed about being stung, when the bees come for a drink from the excess. |
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threadbear Senior Member
since 2008-07-10
Posts 817Indy |
Greatly inspiring, Sunshine! The reason that bees and wasps drink so hungrily, is that they fly back to their hive, spit the water onto the bottom of the hive floor, and other bees fan it, thus cooling the hive. Without water, many of the wasp/bee hives would overheat. |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
And now I've learned something new. I guess this wasn't such a childish write after all. Thank you, all! |
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katahdin Senior Member
since 2010-07-01
Posts 1196ME. In the Shadow of the Mt. |
Great poem! Enjoyed! Kat >^..^< |
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jwesley Member Rara Avis
since 2000-04-30
Posts 7563Spring, Texas |
I put up two watering holes...the one and only one I had, like your poem, became covered in bees ... so after a couple weeks I put a 12" plastic flower pot dish in the bird bath, only it having water...a few days later I moved the birdbath 20 or 30 feet away, put the pot dish on a tall bucket and, yep, the bees have stuck with the one they know and the other is basically Bee Free. Also I sometimes spray the bushes (that are in the shade) for a few minutes and the birds come, especially the small ones like chick-a-dees and such, but even have seen a bluejay and robin, come and "frolic" among the wet leaves, some using them to bathe, others actually drinking at them. The hummingbirds really like the wet leaves. In the last week or two though ... the bees have quit coming...hopefully they've chosen another water hole. Did they all move to your house?? Loved the poem. j. |
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JL Member Ascendant
since 2004-04-01
Posts 6128Texas, USA |
When I read the title my thoughts were all over the place wondering where in the world this was going… Nice one Sunshine! JL  |
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