A yellow bush bee landed on my finger

I stared enthralled, and watched it stand there, staring;

it didn't seem afraid, was glad to linger,

I laughed at its audacity and daring.

It looked at me, as if to say: "Oh great King,

I stand here at your mercy, grant me pardon;

my life is driven by some instinct's making,

I've plundered every treasure in your garden.

As parrots cackled in their tree-top bowers,

I thought about the world, forlorn and windswept

and then I saw the colors in my flowers

and thanked the Gods for sending me this insect.

I read between the lines and saw the meaning:

we see the stars but never look around us;

no rainbowed moonlight needs to come a-gleaming

our own backyards are there, to still astound us.

The forest turned to still and silent caring,

away this bee did fly, and fluttered by me;

I understood this Earth was ours for sharing

for you and me - and creatures, great and tiny.

 More of my NATURE POEMS