To the carpenter bee
Dear Mr. or Mrs. Carpenter bee,
first let me say I never intended
to trap you with that nasty wasp
his angry rapid fire thrusts
his never-ending stabbings
just because you’re both stuck
inside this clear tube world.
I think about you a lot
because I can imagine what it’s like
to go somewhere you are told is safe
only to deal with masked stabby types
that won’t listen to reason
and only want to jam their points in.
You can imagine my surprise when
your lifeless bumble body disappeared
from the holy holey bottom trap
door that I could have opened
releasing you from your distress
but I feared the wasp sometimes
it’s easier to turn and walk away.
Now I stare at the place of your abduction
wondering what house of horrors
is happening in the dark shed I can’t see
where masked stabby stabbers detain and
disappear your kind before the morning light.
It wasn’t my intention for you
to suffer but I’m at peace now
knowing my precious pergoland
is safe for another season
my paycheck doesn’t bounce and my stock
portfolio buzzes up and to the right.
Greg Chambers creative writing group April 2026
