Oh little bee, who's lost you way
My heart cries out for you today.
How many ages have you served!
This is not what you deserved

I asked "Why do you remain?
Have the hives gone sour again?
The webbing on this chair's no hive
And I fear you'll not be long alive."

I am so sorry little bee
What mankind's folly did to thee.
How many ages you have served!
This is not what you deserved.

They have called your mother Queen
Which I think is very mean
For she was here long before men
Made systems and then strengthened them.

"My mother has passed and the hive is dead"
("All for more profit", I almost said.)
"Her mothers before her brought life to the trees"
"I know" I said, "we're lost without bees"


G Mayer 2008