Worker Bee Prayer

From The Life of the Bee
After Maeterlinck

Virgin daughter of toil
whose mysterious duties begin in light
now closely huddled
in darkness numbed it seems into
geometric silence
shimmering imperceptibly
unsuffocated by multitude
enlivened sacrificed entirely
to Republic to hive
to perpetual chastity
to manifold activity group mind
Instant pearl-diver
breaking out head first
through the living walls enclosing
into flowery expanse world
without blooming end
Return gasping for breath
into the syncopating mass
in which you freely breathe
Happy winged organ of your race
if ever isolated
dying from loneliness
tell us how among
our own adversities individualities
we might make something
whole
         something
perfected by work
               and sacrifice
something honey-gold