A Feathered Solution

a commotion, a yell, a terrified eek

I ran to the window to take a quick peek.

a toddler, a little girl, running away from the trees

for behind her flew closely a little yellow bee.

big hugs, drying tears, telling her it’s okay

that bees aren’t anything to be afraid of when we go out to play.

my message although well spoken, did not land

for in her head bees were awful, playing was canned.

so I went to the store with a plan in my mind

that perhaps some attractant and traps combined,

could take care of this pest problem, summer fun resume

it was time to make a black and yellow tomb.

it worked for awhile the peace was restored

but eventually the traps were all but ignored

so I went to play b, a new idea to try

back to the store with one more thing to buy.

that perhaps if the bees were not afraid of me

they might be afraid of something more instinctually.

I put up the pole and I hung it on top

a bird feeder surely would bring this to a stop.

alas I was right, this time it was a success,

for bees are more scared of a feathered chest.

I have learned something, a new rule of thumb

that it is better to bring life than take it from one

even though a bee might terrify my daughter

bees fear of birds is indeed much stronger .

and so here I sit listening to my new friends sing

grateful for those little things, the things that have wings.