For so work the honey bees,
Creatures that by a rule in nature teach
The act of order to a peopled kingdom.
They have a king, and officers of sorts,
Where some like magistrates correct at home;
Others like merchants venture trade abroad;
Others like soldiers, armed in their stings,
Make boot upon the summer’s velvet buds,
Which pillage they with merry march bring home
To the tent-royal of their emperor;
Who, busied in his majesty, surveys
The singing masons building roofs of gold,
The civil citizens kneading up the honey,
The poor mechanic porters crowding in
Their heavy burdens at his narrow gate,
The sad-ey’d justice, with his surly hum,
Delivering o’er to executors pale
The lazy yawning drone.
William Shakespeare, Henry V, I.ii
Exquisite work Rachael.. I love the top one. It’s body seems almost translucent. Such heavy pollen.. and the words… gorgeous!
Thanks, Helen. I love that passage from Henry V.
Beautiful Beautiful Beautiful!!! I love these 🙂
Thank you so much!
Amazingly detailed pictures. As I read the poem, I was thinking that you had written it, a latter-day Shakespeare! Thank you for visiting my blog.
Thanks, Vivien. So nice to find you here on WordPress.
I was thrilled to bits to find you, as well! Did you know that there are other OU CW survivors around as well. Susanne Lockie (A Sonsie Lass) and Linda Cosgriff (The Laughing Housewife and also I’m Not Averse), and Harry Nicholson all blog on WP
I didn’t know that. I must try to find Harry.
Harry is at http://1513fusion.wordpress.com/ He put a link to your blog on his this morning!
Thanks. I’ve found him. That was very kind of him.
That little bee has been working hard! All covered in pollen.
Doing the work of a hivefull!
Perfect shots!
Thank you very much!
So delicate and beautiful!
Thank you, Tricia.
the covered in pollen bee looks beautiful…
Thanks. It had been very busy!
Splendid macro shots! I can almost hear it buzzing!