BEE MOVIE

Reflections on what my true role in Society may be...OR NOT!!

BEE MOVIE

(Please note, I called my poem this, WAY before those
other guys called their movie did!)

I am glad I'm not a Bee:
I would not EVER choose to be!
A life of Indolence, sweet,
Waited upon, all six feet;

Covetable, the life of a Drone,
UNTIL presented at the Throne
Given in Marriage, but no Prince, I�
FOR THEN I DIE!!

And as I draw my last bee-breath,
Pondering my ignominious death,
I think, "How appropriate that sex is all:
"My only function, and my downfall!"

Of all Earth's species, Humans alone
Allow their males to pretend to the throne;
How tougher, then, for the human male,
Since EVERY female has a sting in her tail!

Methinks my playacting they're tolerating
'Til I fulfill my procreating,
Thence, into slow, purposeless death to fall:
WAIT! It seems I'm only a drone after all!

October 22, 1988

Author's Note

My sincere apologies to previous reviewers. I had been trying without success for over an hour to get this offering to publish properly, without underscore, boldface, et al, until finally I had to delete the entire thing and start over; regrettably, the reviews went with it.

Reviews

[Rick Puetter]

Dear Mark,

Ah, the war of the sexes! Oh the poor drone. This gives "love 'em and leave 'em" a whole new meaning.

This piece made me think immediately of Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shrew" and the exchange between Petruchio and Katherine in the first scene of Act 2:

PETRUCHIO
Come, come, you wasp. I' faith, you are too angry.

KATHERINE
If I be waspish, best beware my sting.

PETRUCHIO
My remedy is then to pluck it out.

KATHERINE
Ay, if the fool could find it where it lies.

PETRUCHIO
Who knows not where a wasp does wear his sting?
In his tail.

Again, a very nice piece, Mark. Who has the upper hand? In the Bee kingdom, it is certainly not the drone. But who is it in the world of men? That's not so obvious. Perhaps we men are pure puppets of the ladies. Perhaps we are, as you suggest, only drones.

Best regards,

Rick

[Christina May Shanaberg]

Now, now, boys! We have, yet, to have eaten one of you alive, as the praying mantis or the black widow. I must admit that human males and females are as different as day and night; however, we look up to your strength, but with us we try to make you weak. Wonderful write!!

[Muse]

Lol, this painted a wonderful and funny picture in my mind. Almost as unfortunate as the Preying Mantice!

[Raven Starhawk]

This is imagination at its best. ^^* This poem was fun and yet compelling in way of style and verse.

[Becky C Strukamp]

You have a refreshingly unique sense of humor. The world needs more humor. When we take ourselves too seriously we miss a lot. Another remarkable poem.

[Manyfacets]

A drone or NOT! We know that you are a poet. It is my belief that all poets leave the world a better place. This was a delight to read...Smiles M.

[Nathan Noble]

I must say this is much better than the movie, haha. This was very interesting and amusing. Indeed, it is a woman's world and we are just lucky enough to be living here. Great write as always!

[Through the Gateway]

I concur with all my female reviewers. ;)

Very amusing, Mark.

[cest la vie]

Mark,
This is a witty, catchy read. Hmm, the male Bee, well he's a lucky little bugger isn't he? You captured something here that is so relevent to "real life". I thoroughly enjoyed this lite read before I go off to make my way in the world. Male Bee-less..LOL.. Thanks for a great write.

Lynne

[Marie Anzalone]

Oh Mark do bee realistic here! I notice you expound upon the life of the queen and the drones... but fail to mention that those females with the stingers are the ones doing all of the work to keep the colony going! I know the only times I sting are when I'm exhausted at the end of a long busy 12-hour work day and come home to find the same dishes in the sink, nothing for dinner, and my BF napping in front of the telly... probably a good reason I'm on my own again, LOL. Some of us are not meant to be hive creatures I fear!

Hopefully you've found since 1988 (Holy hell I was in 3rd grade suffering through Michael Jackson!) that some females have tempered the sting a bit (we do reserve it for special occasions and people, though) and that there is more for a male to contribute to life than procreation and death! Some of us even intend to keep one or two of you around into old age... if we can find one we don;t want to shoot outright, that is! I'd tolerate a lot of playacting for some help in the kitchen and a kind word sometimes.

All kidding aside, I enjoyed this thoroughly. The tone was delightfully sardonic and witty, and a perfect break from morning chores. I will smile today when I'm outside watching a bee collect its harvest as I start mine (sunflowers and grains are ready to be cut and brought in!) Thanks for the smile this morning!

[Ellen Hammond]

Hey, I've seen a lot of human drones who like to sit back and let the females do all the work while they live only for mating, but eventually they meet their match too. I was always a mere worker bee but now I sit in my motorized throne just dreaming of a brave, unconventional drone. LOL This is such a delightful read.