Meeting with a Dark-edged Bee Fly

Cherry

By Jane Hyphen

Sat, 28 Mar 2020
  • 1752 reads
10 comments
 

 

‘You look kind of menacing?’

 

‘Oh really, tell me more…’

 

‘That long proboscis thing,

 It’s rather like a sword.’

 

‘It’s for getting at the nectar

 In the flowers, nothing more.’

 

‘And your furry coat there

 Would imply you have a sting.’

 

‘Not so, the fur collects the pollen

 So unlike you, I don’t waste a thing.’

 

‘And how you swoop and hover

 Like a B-2 Spirit Bomber.’

 

‘Nature’s design, not for war though

 My stunning flying’s for surviving.’

 

‘But where have you been hiding,

 I’ve not seen your sort before.’

 

‘This is my normal springtime hang-out,

 It should be me who’s scrutinising.’

 

‘Sorry, I’m only sitting in my garden

 Because I’m in lockdown, isolating.’

 

‘Oh well I’d love to chat but I’ve got 

 Flowers to pollinate and times a wastin.’

 

 

Certificate U
Poem

Comments

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Enjoyed eavesdropping the conversation! Made me look up bee-flies! Aspects of insect flight and landing are stunning in their accuracy aren't they? Examined by drone-makers I expect to try to copy. Thus they design - and so, that they copy was designed, not by impersonal nature! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

It was so beautiful and amazing with its furry body and pointy, long proboscis. Yes, it did move very much like a drone although far more elegantly of course. I hope we get some good weather again so that I can go ouot insect whispering again now that we have some flowers in bloom. Thanks for your comment.

 

Submitted by celticman on

well, it is spring and it has sprung, why not talk to insects? 

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

Thanks celticman for your comment and the cherries. I will be talking to any insect, bird or mammal which introduces itself to me over the coming days, weeks. 

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

I just love this poem Jane, being able to connect with nature is more important than ever now. Hope the weather improves for you to get out there and converse.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

Thanks for your comment Jenny. It's so true although today I was nearly blown away holding court with a couple of moths. If we all stay indoor all the time some of us will have trouble sleeping and that's bad for your mental health on top of the isolation.

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

liked this very much! Made me think of neatly hovering, the short bursts of 2 lines and the pzazz of the rhymes. Have not seen any type of bee yet. Though the midges have been up for weeks. I don't think they would be so polite

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

Ha ha, no I agree midges would probably be quite abrupt but are we being prejudice there? Not many insects about today, too cold but plenty of flowers and plant life emerging. Thanks for your comment.

 

Submitted by airyfairy on

I love the idea of this conversation.  I think I would be apprehensive of what any creature would have to say to me about our stewardship of the planet.  You describe the bee fly so cleverly as well.  I don't think I've ever seen one, but then, I probably haven't been looking in the right place! 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

Thanks airyfairy. They're quite common I think, with a round furry body and the proboscis is like a needle, quite cute actually, well at least when you haven't seen many people for a while. You're right about our entitled stewardship of the planet, if only these creatures could talk we'd all be shamed into changing our ways.