Honey Bee Mine
Honey “bee” mine
Once upon a time
on a sweet Summer’s eve
High on a hill
stood an ancient oak tree
Where a story took flight
on gossamer wings
Of danger and romance
and palace intrigue
So gather the children
to hear of the tale
And share in the mysteries
this saga avails
For long before Romeo
met Juliet
Lived two other lovers
South of Old Wales
Though they are not famous
They rightly should be
For their’s is a story
without tragedy
Of Harry and Honey
And love in a tree
For they were not people
They were just bees
The Hive
Now it all began
just West of Dover
Among English meadows
of barley and clover
Where dreams all come true
for the dreamer moreover
It all transpired
the thirty days of October
The forest all knew
the bow where it hung
And all gave it distance
So not to be stung
It had been there forever
On a big gnarly rung
Protected from rainstorms
the wind and the sun
From far far away
you could hear a faint sound
so many bugs
flying out and inbound
And as you got closer
The buzz grew real loud
From 10,000 bees
on their daily rounds
The Nursery
On the day bees are born
And don’t ask me why
They know their own name
Not like you and I
Walking and talking
but they need not try
For their wings just won’t work
They must learn how to fly
So let’s take a look
deep down inside
This busy bee place
this busy bee hive
Down in the nursery
where babies first cry
And two special bees
about to arrive
The parents were nervous
They’d waited y’know
While each baby nestled
in its own honey comb
All covered with jelly
from their head to their toes
One was a princess
The other a drone
What was this taste
so gooey and sweet?
As he woke for the first time
from the deepest of sleep
He twisted his head
and wiggled his feet
And with one final push
he finally was free
The Meeting
And then to his left
right out of a dream
The most beautiful bee
that he’d ever seen
Though she was the first
his fate had been sealed
She said, “My name is Honey
and one day I’ll be Queen”
A bountiful thorax
and slender wasp waist
Long silken wings
and a movie star face
Nothing about her
seemed out of place
He stuttered, “I’m Huh ... Harry”
it was all he could say
Then Harry looked over
and there through the screen
Were both of his parents
waving their wings
He tried to wave back
but his didn’t work
Well... that’s something to ask them
he thought with a shirk
The Royal Guard
Then out of nowhere
the stomping of boots
Shaking the floor
and even the roof
They surrounded the princess
stood stern and aloof
With their stingers all poised
they looked resolute
Then from behind him
a shadow appeared
Huge and forbidding
it filled him with fear
A big as a hornet
as he towered so near
Captain of the Guard
the Queen’s Brigadier
With the blast of a bugle
from the Royal escort
“Make way for the Princess!”
the Captain’s retort
Quickly whisking away
their guarded Consort
To meet the Queen Mother
along with her Court
Going Home
He turned to his parents
Who saw the parade
They looked so impressed
by this Royal promenade
He asked, “why’d they take
my new friend away?”
“No questions Harry
You must simply obey”
They took him home
and explained it you see
“You’re just a drone
and not Royalty”
“Your friend is the princess
by Royal decree”
“She’ll marry the Captain
at the Spring Jubilee”
Flight School
Long long ago
it soon was discovered
When baby bees flew
they would knock things over
For it takes some practice
to learn how to hover
And diligently go
from clover to clover
So now every larvae
when they are bred
Are made to be born
with small wings instead
Except for a princess
because she is fed
A little Royal Jelly
or so it’s been said
So now every bee
Must go to flight school
To memorize flowers
and learn all the rules
The world can be scary
so you need the right tools
For if caught by a spider
you’ll be a dead fool
But lo and behold
on his first day in class
Across from him sat
the most beautiful lass
Her face looked familiar
His thoughts flew by fast
“Could that be my Honey
only one week had past?”
She was more beautiful
than even before
Black fuzz on her legs
that hung down to the floor
And the slope of her abdomen
was hard to ignore
His antenna were twitching
from the perfume she wore
He said rather meekly
“Rememeber me?”
She slowly turned
and said tenderly
“How could I forget
the first person I see?”
“For we were both born
simultaneously”
His little bee heart
leaped out of his chest
Her words were like magic
He was her’s to posses
And He made a vow
that He would not rest
Until she was his bride
And they shared a nest
Each day they made plans
Outside in the hall
While guards watched them closely
stingers and all
Love grew ever sweeter
deep into the Fall
A love that was stronger
than thick palace walls
Spectacles
Because He looked forward
to school everyday
His parents were worried
to friends they would say
Our child’s not normal
like most bees his age
‘Cause he likes to study
while they’d rather play
Then one day He opened
His bee history book
The words were all blurry
as if they’d been shook
He covered up one eye
just like Captain Hook
Still they didn’t look
like they should’a looked
The next thing He knew
before he could resist
He was propped in a chair
at the Optometrist
He said, “On my wall
read that chart ... I insist”
The big “E” was as far
as He got on the list
“Well my young bee
it’s very clear”
“You can’t see far
and you can’t see near”
“I can make you some glasses
but there’s one thing to fear”
“They are hard to keep on
since bees have no ears”
“This strap will hold them
so give it a try”
He looked in the mirror
And thought He would die
He was Mr. Magoo
‘cause He had four eyes
He thought about Honey
Won’t she be surprised?
The Lesson
“Harry!” “Wake up!”
“Or you’ll be late for school”
“Mom, I don’t feel good
I’ve got the flu”
“Bees don’t catch colds
so you know that’s not true”
“It must be those glasses
this isn’t like you”
He said, “I’ll admit
that I am perplexed”
“In fact they are causing
a great deal of stress”
“I’m a afraid that my girl
will lose all respect”
“And laugh when she sees
me in my new specs”
His Dad told him , “Son
you’re almost grown”
“Soon you’ll be pollinating
out on your own”
“This type of behavior
won’t be condoned”
“It’s time to man up
and grow a backbone”
“Besides when your eyes
stop growing you’ll “see””
“You can take that literal
or figuratively”
“But wearing those glasses
is temporary”
“You can get LASIK
Radial Keratotomy”
He hopped on the bee bus
More resolute
He said to himself
just don’t give a hoot
Pretend that you look
rather astute
And when He saw Honey
she said, “Aww, your too cute!”
He felt much better
His Father was right
Just face to music
don’t be so uptight
He almost was glad
that He’d lost his sight
‘Cause she told of a plan
to see him that night
The Plot
She said, “It’s been lonely
from the day I was born”
“There’s no one to talk to
in my palace home”
“But I’ll share a secret
to a tunnel unknown”
“So you can could come visit
when I am alone”
“Come to the South Gate
at exactly midnight”
“The guard will be changing
I’ll set out a light”
“Make sure you are quiet
please stay out of site”
“Or the wrath of the Captain
will be your sore plight”
He feared that the guards
could hear his heart beat
It’s hard to walk softly
when you’ve got six feet
But this is the place
where we planned to meet
Once he knew the entrance
They could be more discrete
Then up ahead
there appeared a small torch
Behind some bushes
right under an arch
It shone right on time
as the guards changed their watch
He whispered, “Is that Honey?”
“Of course!” her retort
Royal Chambers
She held up the torchlight
with her dainty bee wrist
And as He embraced
this Princess He’d missed
He knew she was worth
the danger and risk
When his glasses fogged up
from their very first kiss
It made him dizzy
Dazzled and dazed
As He stood in the tunnel
with his glasses still hazed
Till He felt her hand
“I’ll show you the way”
“But pay close attention
it’s quite the maze”
She pushed on the door
it creaked and it groaned
He stepped in the room
of his princesses’ home
With golden brocade
the walls were adorned
The most beautiful room
He’d ever been shown
She said, “I’ve heard rumors
and idle talk”
“That the Captain has ordered
another Banishment Walk”
“Drones are selected
with red dye to be marked”
“Then banished at Winter
when the hive is sealed off”
“The Queen doesn’t know
of his dastardly plans”
“She’s grown too old
To issue commands”
“I fear he’ll arrest me
and make no remands”
“Against his reign of terror
we must take a stand’
“We could be captured
of this there’s no doubt”
“But I’d rather die
than your love live without”
“So you must leave with me
and be my espoused”
“Then from our exile
his scheme will will rout”
Foiled “Almost”
We made our plans
a fortnight we’d wait
Then meet at the tunnel
by the South Gate
But before we could make
our planned getaway
“Halt who goes there?”
we heard the guard say
We said, “Just two lost bees
He didn’t recognize
That one was his princess
for she wore a disguise
But he fell to a knee
when to his surprise
She threw off her robe
and spread her wings wide
“My Royal Highness
forgive this humble man”
“Please don’t report me
to the Royal Captain
“I won’t ask why you’re here
I am at your command”
“I pledge you my stinger
I shall be your right hand”
She said, “I’ve a question
And please don’t refrain”
“Do you have a son
and what is his name?”
“I’ve a young drone
we call him Wayne”
“Your son is in danger
and let me explain”
So she told of the plans
for bees like his son
He said, “The Royal Captain
has already begun”
“But I have a plan
a very good one”
“But there’s no turning back
it can’t be undone”
“First my plan needs
a brave volunteer”
“Someone who’s a leader
and knows no fear”
“I’ll will arrest him
then he’ll commandeer”
“A prison of drones
to breakout of here”
They both looked at Harry
He gulped and looked back
“Do You really think
I could lead this attack?”
“You’ve all we’ve got
that’s simply a fact”
“We need to strike from within
for the fatal impact”
He remembered the words
His Dad had imparted
“You’ve got to man up
don’t be softhearted
You have to finish
once you have started
There’s no retreat
from the course you have charted”
He said, “Don’t worry my Honey
you must be brave”
“With an army of drones
a war I will wage”
“I will vanquish the Captain
and his wicked ways”
“And then free us all
from this big bee cage”
Prison Revolt
She said, “Please be safe
and hurry back Harry”
“The dangers are many
so you must be wary”
“The road will be hard
but you mustn’t tarry”
“For when you return
A hero I’ll marry”
He bid his adieu
to his future bride
Marched off with the guard
His head held up high
The odds were against him
But He had to try
To save his sweet Honey
He was willing to die
The guard lead him away
the look was complete
Both hands were bound
and he’d shackled his feet
They couldn’t let the Captain
see through their deceit
As they headed into
the belly of the beast
They arrived at the prison
the hour was late
announcing their presence
The guards opened the gate
He told them he caught me
trying to escape
They said, “Off to the dungeon
with this drone reprobate”
There were 500 bees
with him in the cell
He told them “The Captain
has plans to expel
you all from the hive
and your fathers as well”
“But we’ll stop him cold
and send him to Hell”
With him on their shoulders
They let out a cheer
“Hail to our leader!”
“He’s finally here!”
“He’ll lead us to battle!”
“His vision is clear!”
“Long live King Harry!”
“Victory is near!”
Victory
They captured the jailer
and with his keys
His army of drones
set out to be free
Their sheer numbers made
the battle a breeze
Soon all of the guards
were down on their knees
He walked up to the Captain
who glared from his knees
All bound and gagged
he was unable to speak
“What should we do
With this despicable bee?”
“For I say we banish him
For eternity”
The drones all in unison
Started to shout
“Off with his stinger!”
“Kick the bum out!”
Over and over
their chorus so loud
They wanted him gone
there was no doubt
The Decree
We frogged marched him to
the edge of the hive
To all the bees joy
the princess arrived
For word of our victory
had spread far and wide
She raised a Royal hand
the crowd became quite
“From this day forward
I make this decree”
“When Winter arrives
no bee has to leave”
In Princess Honey’s hive
we all shall live free
And even drones can marry
A queen soon to be
Ever after
The coronation was held
The very next Spring
Along with the crowning
Wedding bells did ring
And all of the forest
heard the Royal Choir sing
“Long live Queen Honey
and Harry the King”
So if ever in England
While Taking a stroll
Down old country lanes
On a dune or a knoll
Should you stop for a flower
And hear a faint buzz
It’s merely Honey and Harry
Just Two bees in love
John Snelling
11:18:20
HONEY
HARRY
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