08-14-2016, 05:41 AM
Edit, title change
Birds with Bees
Hummingbirds, viridian,
gray-vested, ruby-gorgeted
bounce, clip each other
squeak their warning cries
around a feeder full of sugared water
wreathed in vinyl tulips, candy-red.
Among them little black and golden bees
sip sweetened sap
hug, sometimes entering
bright “bee-guard” screens.
When a bird approaches, drinking bees
fly off but circle back
in tighter turns than hummingbirds,
drive off their feather-fanning
green competitors.
Then unlike hummers, bees can rest
atop a feeder’s slick red cap
sun-warmed and indolent.
All this circling, twisting
seldom-touching dogfight whirls
around false flowers
placed for joy.
original version;
Birds and Bees
Hummingbirds, viridian, white-necked,
gray-vested, ruby-gorgeted
bounce, clip each other
squeak their warning cries
around a feeder full of sugared water
wreathed in vinyl flowers, candy-red.
Among them little black and golden bees
also sup on sugar sap
hugging to (and sometimes entering)
yellow “bee-guard” screens.
When a bird approaches, drinking bees
fly off but circle back
in tighter turns
than hummingbirds can manage
driving off their feather-fanning
green competitors.
And unlike hummers, bees can rest
atop a feeder’s slick red cap
sun-warmed and indolent.
All this circling, twisting
seldom-touching dogfight whirls
around false flowers
hung for entertainment
yet provisioned with
real food.
Birds with Bees
Hummingbirds, viridian,
gray-vested, ruby-gorgeted
bounce, clip each other
squeak their warning cries
around a feeder full of sugared water
wreathed in vinyl tulips, candy-red.
Among them little black and golden bees
sip sweetened sap
hug, sometimes entering
bright “bee-guard” screens.
When a bird approaches, drinking bees
fly off but circle back
in tighter turns than hummingbirds,
drive off their feather-fanning
green competitors.
Then unlike hummers, bees can rest
atop a feeder’s slick red cap
sun-warmed and indolent.
All this circling, twisting
seldom-touching dogfight whirls
around false flowers
placed for joy.
original version;
Birds and Bees
Hummingbirds, viridian, white-necked,
gray-vested, ruby-gorgeted
bounce, clip each other
squeak their warning cries
around a feeder full of sugared water
wreathed in vinyl flowers, candy-red.
Among them little black and golden bees
also sup on sugar sap
hugging to (and sometimes entering)
yellow “bee-guard” screens.
When a bird approaches, drinking bees
fly off but circle back
in tighter turns
than hummingbirds can manage
driving off their feather-fanning
green competitors.
And unlike hummers, bees can rest
atop a feeder’s slick red cap
sun-warmed and indolent.
All this circling, twisting
seldom-touching dogfight whirls
around false flowers
hung for entertainment
yet provisioned with
real food.
Non-practicing atheist