The Ant and the Honey Bee

Once upon a time and place, one grew so great
that the world seemed to shrink about him,
his voice like a thousand thunders, his anger darkened skies, and footprints defied the tides.1

~ One~2

It was something the size of a flea
got caught in the giant’s eyes.
It made his next step fall short
and then he began to stagger.3

He rubbed his eyes until they teared
and then they were red in anger;
still he stumbled, this giant of all.
He could not true his course.4

And so he stepped into a puddle
and the water flew into his face.
The water eased the redness of his eyes
then the dirt in the water made it all worse.5

Now he staggered even more sternly
and began to teeter and rock.
The world around began to tremble:
oh, what if the giant falls upon us?6

And it happened that the Giant staggered and reeled
and blindly, by some chance, found a tree:
An ancient tree, all wooded wisdom,
a witness to the ages before giants or men.7

And the tree lent its strength, and the Giant calmed.
When he could once again see and clearly,
he bowed from his waist, and graciously thanked the tree.
The tree simply smiled, its face a weathered dream.8

The mighty giant learned a secret of the tiny flea.
He turns the pride of his victim on himself.
I did not heed my dire need,
from a fly in my eye was I nearly lost.9

And the Ancient One then did agree
the Giant carved upon the Tree:
Live humbly with greatness,
a gift for which much is owed.10


~Two~11

And there came a day when Ants sent an emissary12

to plead for peace in the world;13

So too did Honey Bees for the stress of life14

without peace had decimated their numbers.15

And so did they go to the palace of the Giant of All.16


He no longer had needs, the world was his Castle.17

Others seemed like unseen barely noticed life, huddled in18

corners away from his sight; shivering in the cold drafts19

he allowed for his comfort, sweltering in the furious heat20

burning from his many things of fire.21

And the Ancient Tree his fount of wisdom stood in a lost 22

corner of an untended acres, silence upon weathered lips and23

loneliness for want of attentive ears, knowledge hungry 24

eyes and the admiration of sage words; bare limbed in the 25

height of summer waiting for a season of an age gone by.26

27

So they found the Giant in such a state, he was drunk with power.28

He had consumed all that was set before him by his Daughters29

and now he could not raise his head nor lift his eyes.30

In patience taught by needs, the Ant and the Honey Bee 31

stayed long and with the Daughters of the Giant. All32

could not awaken him for he was deeply lost33

in a wonderful sleep. Neither daughter,34

Beauty or Light, could stir him from his dreamy dream.35

So while in wait did Beauty and Light attend.36

Courtesy to guests did so please the Ant and the Bee,37

for the Daughters were so kind; bringing sweet nectar and rest.38

And rewarding, the Ant and the Bee taught them to fly.39

Delighted, alighted the Daughters flew and laughed40

never had they such joy, and flight was perfect.41

And they flew to their Father to show their42

pleasure and new wet wings.43

And the Giant in his dreamy dream44

felt the buzzing of a fly, near his eye45

and remembered a flea and how it had once ruined him;46

he angrily threw his giant hand, and his anger awakened him.47

And he opened his bleary eyes to the memory of his dream;48

but came awake into a nightmare, there, Beauty and Light49

all tears and broken wings. And the Giant wept, 50

through his bitter tears trying with his ungainly fingers,51

to repair the delicate wings.52

The Ant and the Honey Bee saw and together said:53

Perhaps now in the saltiest eye, 54

All can know that even the fly55

has love to give. Not to withstand56

the weight of his mighty hand57

but still imbued by Nature with worth58

and a place of value on this good green Earth.59

So exuent the Ant and the Honey Bee60

as Giant of All wept over the injury;61

the dimming of the Light to see62

and the unforeseen fall of Beauty.63