To honor those that toil…
the workers and their contributions to the well-being of our nation…
Here’s to the pollinators!
robed in royalty
herbaceous daisy dances
grace labors freely
Photo & poem ©2023 Patricia J. Franz
bees labor in love
unaware, summer waning
sungold explosion
Photo & poem ©2023 Patricia J. Franz
I continue to be in conversation with ancient Japanese poets, courtesy of a Summer Poetry Swap gift from Linda Baie (a book of haiku published in 1955).
Imagine my delight when Matsuo Basho (1644-1694) – considered the master of Japanese haiku – and I gushed over our shared observations in the garden.
Basho:
ballet in the air…
twin butterflies
until, twice white…
they meet, they mate
Me:
pollinator pair
smothered in love’s sweet nectar
flower to flower
I’m meandering my way through James Crews’ THE PATH TO KINDNESS: Poems of Connection and Joy. On page 64, in reference to Ted Kooser’s poem “It Doesn’t Take Much” Crews reminds us how simply noticing – humanity, nature, whatever – connects us to the larger world. I’m grateful for the Poetry Friday community and all their noticings – that keep me connected.
May your Labor Day hold rest and refreshment for you.
Patricia Franz writes picture books and poetry. She believes children, dogs, and sourdough have a lot to teach us about life, joy, and wonder. She has raised two boys, four dogs, and holds a master’s degree in Theology with a focus on children’s spirituality. Patricia, her husband, her Bernese Mountain dog, Bonny, and her sourdough starter split their time between the Arizona desert and the Sierra Nevada mountains. 
This is beautiful, Patrcia! Bees are the perfect image of a laborer, so fitting on Labor Day. I also love “ballet in the air” and “smothered in love’s sweet nectar.” Ah …
Have to admit, I feel a bit lazy watching them work so hard!
Your photos are beautiful, Patricia, and your haiku pair with them perfectly. Thank you for this lovely post!
Thanks for the note, Linda!
Patricia, what a perfect Labor Day post. These important workers, always going, never taking a day off. Laboring for the good of the planet. Your sweet response poem to Basho’s is my favorite thing on this sweet post.
Thank you, Denise. I mean, who works harder??
Glass of tea raised in praise of the pollinators! Thank goodness for them and thank you for your noticing that you put into pretty language. I like your haiku at least as much as the master.
Those masters teach in such essential ways.
Patricia, your nod to the bees as laborers on Labor Day is unique, I like all of your poems and imagery along with your gorgeous photos. I agree with Linda M. That your haiku next to Basho’s is absolutely filled with great word choices. Have a wonderful weekend!
Thank you, Carol. It’s been a great writing exercise to sit in conversation with these haiku masters.
I know I’m repeating but the bees connecting on Labor Day is part of your wondrous ‘noticing’, Patricia. And I love your making your special connections to Basho. You must feel proud of that, too. Happy Labor Day to you and yours!
Linda, your haiku book gift continues to bring so much joy!
“Love’s sweet nectar”! Charming post, Patricia, on a timely topic!
I saw one yesterday COVERED in yellow!
Love the sound of “robed in royalty.” And those laboring bees – perfect! Thank you for all your noticings.
They labor with such delight, too… another great lesson.
Your haiku are such perfection of pollinators adding grace and beauty to our world. Your images are amazing!
I don’t have a bayou, but I can get lost watching the bees in the flowers.
Thanks for honoring workers with the bee haikus.
A book I loved sharing with students leading up to Labor Day is Someone Builds the Dream by Lisa Wheeler and Loren Long.
LOVE that book, too! One of my faves!
What sumptuous photos, Patricia! The colours are gorgeous. And the bees and butterflies don’t know how lucky they are. Your pollinator haiku made me want to be one of them ‘smothered in love’s sweet nectar’. I’d roll and roll…
The colors and bees are my delight this summer!
I love that your haiku focus on pollinators, Patricia. We must have been on the same page this week! LOL. I have also read ancient Japanese poets who created haiku. It is an interesting form – hard to do correctly. And now, there seems to be a push to create modern (non-syllabic) haiku. I like the traditional form myself. Thanks for sharing the beauty you see in your world.
Yes, the intro in the volume Linda gave me opened my eyes as to the original form and what is “lost in translation” relative to Japanese vs English syllables. But, I mostly love immersing myself in the conversations now 🙂
Love this! I’m reading THE HAIKU SEASON by Higginson, so I’ve been reading a lot of the masters as well. Your pictures are so lovely.
Still coveting the thought of a macro lens!
Love this line! “bees labor in love”
Yes, rather arrogant of me though – re the anthropomorphizing I suppose!
Just like Linda B. to mail such a nourishing poetry swap & also for the classic to find it’s perfect mark.
The similarity of subject & feeling in your haiku to The Master are uncanny. Fotos spectacular & spot-on lines for each of this pollinator parties.
For a September p.b. story that blends thoughts of workers with young people, I remember Matt de la Pena’s LAST STOP ON MARKET STREET, which was incredibly illustrated by Christian Robinson.
Several years back now I was fortunate to find a surprise package in by big black mail box ~ a poetry anthology compiled/edited by James Crews, a gift from a dear #PoetryFriday pal & my heart still flutters when I carry it to medical appts. & open to a random page for a lift. I can tell from the lilt in your words you are under the James Crews’ spell. I appreciate you!
I’ve looked into signing into one of his workshop/webinars (saw on someone’s post – had no idea he offers such stuff – but how much fun would that be??)
More appreciations for the perfect nature-based Labor Day post and poems! Here’s to the pollinators, indeed! I’m reading a book you might like, in preparation for an event with the author at a local arboretum: American Wildflowers: A Literary Field Guide, ed Susan Barba. (Actually, I should probably do a whole PF post about it! Sneak preview for you!!)
Ooh…I have a newfound appreciation for field guides. I immersed myself in The Sonoran Desert: A Literary Field Guide as I researched my desert poetry collection — such inspiration!!! Can’t wait to hear/see/read more on the wildflowers!
OMG! I just looked up this beauty! I may have to buy it for the watercolors alone! Thank you for the heads up!
Patricia, like so many others, I’m wowed by your connection of the pollinators to Labor Day, your photos, and your poems. I’ve been thinking a lot about noticing lately and will definitely check out that Kooser poem. Thanks for a lovely post!