The Courage of a Bee

by Zachary Huang

The courage of a bee
Is to venture out at 23
Days of age, facing the world of flowers
That have nectar and pollen
But also dangers hidden-in

Birds like a bee-eater
A robber fly, a praying mantis
And on-the-flower crab spider

The courage of a bee
Is to die for the colony
To protect her queen, and her honey

You may feel an excruciating pain
When you get stung
But she loses her life
Because that painful stinger
Drags out her intestine

2022.7.9