Enlightenment

In the hum of a bee a secret hidden from humanity, nature's charity

Avarice the human trait, kindness does oblate as weeds of austerity 

Leaves create our air, bees their honey share while we enslave

A lover's body we possess, chained love profess, our initials engrave

Owner of land, heart and hand, sealed with a golden band of greed

A selfish breed indeed to pull another's love seed as a weed

One under the same sun, brothers all from mothers, who carried us inside

Sons and daughters of fathers who in rapacious slaughters died

There's nothing owned only by nature loaned, to be returned

Do our hands water hold, or air our fingers mold, much less love capture to be spurned

Reviews

[RomaJ]

Soren, I love the central metaphor of your poem, contrasting nature’s generosity with human greed. Bees, leaves, and the air symbolize abundance and selfless giving, while humans try to possess what is freely shared. It’s a powerful reminder that love, life, and nature cannot truly be owned, only respected and returned. Your poem invites reflection on letting go of control and embracing the flow of generosity and connection.

[Soren]

Thank you Roma for your review and keen eye to pick out the meaning in this write. I truly feel that if people could only see that by becoming one with all we would be so much better off individually as well as a species.

[John the Baptist]

Perhaps there are lessons of cooperation we could learn from nature. On the other hand, Tennyson described nature as "red in tooth and claw." I don't think we would want to emulate predators.

[Soren]

Thank you John for the read and understanding. Yes I agree with Tennyson at one level it is survival of the fittest but it is individual sacrifice that brings species survival and here in enters the sharing. The weak given in trade for the strength of the whole. A different paradigm than what we are taught or believe in our selfishness.

[Thomas W Case]

Tremendous writing, my friend.

[Soren]

Thank you Thomas it is appreciated

[Betty Hermelee]

Dear Soren....you make a very good point here.... we do not own nature; we do not belittle a weed, a bee, or any of nature's beloved....we respect nature in all its glory...there is a cycle, born a seed to blossom...then die only to be re-born...in life, we are all the same; born, death, repeat the cycle just the same as a weed....well done Soren, love your words!
Warmly, B

[Soren]

Thank you Betty for the read and interpretation. It is most appreciated

[Betty Hermelee]

Always a pleasure Soren!
Warmly, B

[carl]

"Nothing owned only by nature loaned" absolutely true for the individual and maybe for the species - - Rightly spoken - don't think we even qualify as sharecroppers - so many full lines in this piece and love your word usage and the repeated rhymes within the lines. - beautiful anthem - ( " I heard very gentle sound... what have they done to the earth... what have they done to our fair sister." - Jim Morrison. )-

[Soren]

Thank you Carl for the read and kind words of support they are as always appreciated especially from a fine poet as yourself