When she left, the bees arrived
upon the sandstone church,
they balled as a growth that seeded wild,
hung, heavy as a breast.
Onto the sacred wall they gathered
dripping low hymns,
each body tremulous, lit with sound,
one emphatic lung.
Bound by a net of pheromone
they came to her and they clung,
not to sting yet thick with intent,
something urging them on
and as we left the church in file,
they were black against the sun
lifting and scattering to bless
the body of their queen.
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