All the males lumber around the house or
hang out on the porch
getting fed by the females
and growing fat and lazy
The males are harmless
If they get excited all they can do
is make loud droning noises
Their only job is
in the spring to fly up and have sex
in mid-air with the queen
who rips out their penis and they drop dead
The unsuccessful drones hang out till winter
when the females throw them out
to die in the cold
Meanwhile all the females, except the queen,
are workers who tend to the males
and also to thousands and thousands of eggs and babies
keeping them warm, fed and cosy
in tiny rooms made of wax flakes
which the females peel from their bellies
On nice days they fly to thousands of flowers
wearing down their wings
to provide food for everyone
They don’t like to be disturbed
and are quick to defend
Females have stingers
but if they use them, they die
By Michael Favala Goldman