Hive Collapse

by Bruce Morton / November 16th, 2025

It is a poisonous pollen that is
In the air, like sin, clear, in lieu
Of us atoning. Bees barely buzz
As the wind drips virulent nectar
That clots in our cells. Hives
That once thrived have gone
Silent, we hope only dormant,
But it is too early to know what
Damage has been done. We
Thought it can’t happen here,
Yet here it is. What is usually
Blooming is not, the unusual
Becoming norm. Bees and we
Brought to our knees.

Bruce Morton divides his time between Montana and Arizona. He is the author of two poetry collections: Planet Mort (2024) and Simple Arithmetic & Other Artifices (2014). His poems have appeared in numerous online and print venues. He was formerly dean at the Montana State University library. Read other articles by Bruce.

This article was posted on Sunday, November 16th, 2025 at 8:00am and is filed under Poverty.