The Dance of the Lazy Bumblebee by Robert Manchester

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The Dance of the Lazy Bumblebee
by
Robert Manchester

"Summertime, and the livin' is easy..."

The early morning marigolds, tall

and wet with dew, bow their large heads

and gently waltz in a light breeze.

Giant zinnias, resplendent in their explosion of colors

shade the basil, parsley and summer squash.

Wearing his yellow and black flight jacket

he passes over the clover and buckwheat

buzzing with honey bees, ground bees, tiny wasps

and hones in on the bright oranges and reds

of the taller flowers.

His hovering wings are like a small fan,

their hum a familiar melody, as he moves

through the marigolds, landing on each flower head

drinking in the sweet rich nectar.

His legs begin to bulge with his pollen purchases,

and now growing heavier he merely kisses

each zinnia, sipping gently.

Sorriso del sole,

higher now in mid-morning sky.

Weighted down with pollen, and drowsy

from the intoxicating nectar, he seeks

the cool shelter of a squash blossom

and walks its tubular shape to its end,

his wings hushed, his eyes heavy.

The blossom is cool and damp, so inviting,

and defying instinct he naps.

He will wait for the cool of the late afternoon

and slowly fly home.

After all it is summertime.

Robert Manchester (1943 - 2022) was born and raised in New Hampshire, surrounded by leafy trees, stone walls, and memories of Robert Frost, Jane Kenyon, Donald Hall, and Richard Eberhardt. He wrote and published poems for 50+ years, admitting that he much preferred writing to submitting, although his work appeared in print frequently. Robert especially enjoyed writing "edgy" poems, he said, about "the underbelly of life--the junk cars, tumbledown trailers, goat pens in the front yard, and the like." In addition to being a poet, he was a lifelong gardener and devoted volunteer at many charitable, educational, and public organizations.

transitions:
"His work is quite entertaing and often humorous"...all true. But someone forgot to say 'perceptive, beautiful ~'. Loved this, can hear that bee hum right through my window ~
Posted 06/22/2015 01:15 PM

rhonasheridan:
Here in Devon they are also sitting on the marigolds. It is getting cooler in the early evening and they are obviously getting tired. Six of them!
Posted 06/22/2015 10:56 AM

Larry Schug:
And the same scene will take place tomorrow--the flowers, the bee, the poetry. How fortunate we are! A beautifully worded tour of a garden.
Posted 06/22/2015 07:51 AM

Katrina:
This poem is gorgeous.
Posted 06/22/2015 07:33 AM

KevinArnold:
Yes a closing line that does all it should do.
Posted 06/22/2015 07:07 AM

romanots:
I felt a little like that satisfied bumblebee by the end of the poem. Bravo, Robert Manchester.
Posted 06/22/2015 06:58 AM

phebe.davidson@gmail.com:
Writing trumps submitting every time-- Glad this one made it into the submit pile, grateful for its presence this summer morning!
Posted 06/22/2015 05:48 AM

Supa:
Reading on a sleepless night. What a wonderful poem. So descriptive. Wonderful summertime.
Posted 06/22/2015 02:42 AM

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