The Bee Carol

I found this beautiful poem by Carol Ann Duffy in last weekend's Guardian newspaper on the same day that my husband checked his bees. The trays were filled with waxed pieces, signs that they are uncapping the seals and eating the honey to keep them going through this cold, cold winter. Despite repeated requests for jars of honey this summer it made me really glad he'd let them keep the rewards of all their hard work. I hope it keeps them going until the Spring and that you enjoy 'The Bee Carol' :

Silently on Christmas Eve,
the turn of midnight's key,
all the garden locked in ice-
a silver frieze-
except the winter cluster of the bees.

Flightless now and shivering,
around their Queen they cling;
every bee a gift of heat;
she will not freeze
within the cluster of the bees.

Bring me for my Christmas gift
a single golden jar;
let me taste the sweetness there,
but honey leave
to feed the winter cluster of the bees.

Come with me on Christmas Eve
to see the silent hive -
trembling stars cloistered above- and then believe,
bless the winter cluster of the bees.