Someone Must Stay — NaPoWriMo Day 23

The Hive-

Usually buzzing with activity is empty.

The usual inhabitants have all been driven away

And the Intruder roams wild and free

Where the mighty once toiled and worked and buzzed and made the sweet, sweet nectar.

Social distancing has taken its toll.

The community lies broken and scattered,

Scrambling to find new homes;

New ways to connect and build a life.

The Hive still stands, empty as it may be.

It’s resilient after all, built with eons of pollen and sweat (in case bees really do sweat).

The bees may come back, one day, probably.

Once the Intruder is defeated.

The stragglers stick around to preserve the Hive on borrowed time,

As their friends disappear one by one into cages of oblivion.

Someone must stay to sacrifice themselves for the Queens; it’s only fair.

The last Workers inject the Hive with electricity,

A weapon, a tool- to defeat the Intruder,

While their friends and colleagues drive themselves to insanity in imprisonment,

They trade their life for some semblance of freedom-

and thankless service.

Poet’s note: Went off-prompt for NaPoWriMo Day 23!