Swat Not

Wasps are good guys!

Vespula Vulgaris,

the common wasp,

invades my space,

my hands set flapping

as I try to bat them

away, afraid

of the sting

in their tails.

 

In late summer,

early autumn

their work life is complete

after three months

of feeding larvae

and serving a queen.

 

So now redundant

and retired from service

they wander the earth

seeking the sweet

elixir of life.

 

Without purpose and disorientated

they stumble towards

over ripe fruit, fizzy drinks

wine and beer and all sweet

things.

 

They need liquid sugar to survive,

to control their insatiable hunger

during this,

the final chapter

of their lives.

 

So they nonchalantly

buzz around us

getting too close for comfort

as they zero in on

our food and drink

in all innocence,

insistent that they

have their fill.

 

Those who remain calm

don't trigger the under-attack

pheromone,

the rallying cry for

more wasps to start arriving

 in aggressive 'red-mist' mode.

 

So I tell myself and those

around me to be still,

I maintain this stoic posture,

superior in my knowledge

that it is the right thing to do,

but when the pesky thing's

persistence

has it buzzing around my head,

I break my resistance

and swat it anyway.

 

Suddenly the fact

that in the absence of wasps as predators,

our planet would be overrun

by even more damaging insects,

such as aphids, ants and caterpillars,

has little meaning.

 

All I care about

at that moment,

is not being stung!

03/09/19

Author's Note

Reviews

[Eilis]

I like this, John. It reminds me of the whole dilemma with humans and nature in that our desires are often at odds with the necessary functions of our environment.

I know I’ve asked the question ‘what is the purpose of (insert annoying creature here)?” more than once in my life. But in the end we are the most destructive creature there is. I wonder if insects ever wonder what our purpose is.

Great poem. I’m always trying to avoid wasps here. They build nests in everything and you get stung before you even know they’re there.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thanks from Croatia Eilis. I love your idea that the pests we endure might just question our purpose.

[Eilis]

Oh, you’re abroad, sounds fun. Have a great trip, John!

[barleygirl]

I love how you inform us with many details about the traits of wasps, which seem a little different than my experience. We have abundant wasps here & they swarm whenever I cook meat. Mine are definitely attracted to blood! I don't mind the one or two that are almost always nearby, but when they call in the troops, that feels a little daunting! I love how you explain your interactions in a tolerant way! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[John Alexander McFadyen]

thanks from Croatia Margie. Was amazed learning about them.

[Fay Slimm]

Ooooh - I cannot forget the day I met with a gang of them John and received in a flick of an eye nineteen stings on my back and arms............. went into shock for a while but realized I had innocently thrown a shovel of debris right into a nest of the things.......... I still believe like you that they are the good guys who are only doing what they know how and thanks for this needed reminder.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Ouch! Not nice to have such an experience. I have been stung once or twice by a single wasp and that is bad enough. Many thanks for reading Fay.

[DAH]

I have a bee attracted flower garden, many flowers, so bees of all types
are in full buzz around me at all times.

Yes, a fine write, John!

Bravo!
DAH

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Ah tis not the bees to beeware of, tis the wasps! Many thanks DAH.

[DAH]

My pleasure!

[Chris Shaw]

Peskey little blighters aren't they? I really enjoyed your lines here John. I was battling with a few the other day down at the marina. They had taken a fancy to my toast and jam. Reminded me of what my grandparents would do. Put out a jar filled a third full with jam on the window cill to attract the wasps. They would drown in jam topped up with water. Hundreds of them. I would never do that myself, but it was a source of fascination to me to see all that agony.

Chris

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Yes I think my mum did a similar trick in summer. I like to leave en alone but as in the poem (based on a true event) it gets to the point when they worry one so much a swot or two is instinct! Many thanks Chris.

[Gee]

I never, I'm afraid, think of their plus side, instead I pick up the nearest cudgel and bludgeon the pesky critters to death, bumble bees however are left alone.
Hi John, hope you are well

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Hi Gee an good thanks, how are things with you?
Thanks for giving me a 'buzz!'

[Dave Brown]

This would be funny if their sting wasn't so annoying
I try to look at wasps based on the insects control they provide but this has been an especially bad year, for what ever reason, and I have had to take out 4 nests
It seems there are two types based on body structure and I find the extra long ones are much less aggressive, so I leave them alone,

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Yes they can be pesky critters indeed. I guess like you I have tried to see the essential side of these creatures but unlike bees, wasps tend to get my hackles up no matter how hard I try to 'love' em! Many thanks Dave.