Poem: To the carpenter bee

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