Work

drones are dead by win-
ter. workers
never
drones are dead ,+finish.
drones are dead ,+start
at larva,
nursed for

a week on jelly,
pollen, honey—
then sealed
drones are dead ,+to
drones are dead ,+sleep.
when she
wakes—a bee—

she must demolish
the wax
door or
drones are dead ,+who
drones are dead ,+else
will. they
all do; then

groom legs and rise to
raise pupae.
milk throbs
drones are dead ,+‘cross
drones are dead ,+eyes,
then sweats
to succor

a queen. next, hanging,
she makes house,
then cleans.
drones are dead ,+spick &
drones are dead ,+span’s
the span,
so’s fanning,

slipping pollens in
slim panniers,
nectar
drones are dead ,+distilled.
drones are dead ,+the
flowers.
the flowers.

the flower’s firm threads.
embalming;
killing
drones are dead ,+what’s
drones are dead ,+killing.
and if
a queen goes

missing or one wants
one might learn
to lay
drones are dead ,+drone
drones are dead ,+sons
who will
take no share

in the labor whether
effort is
waste or

drones are dead ,+is
effort
of laying waste.

—

Alyssa Perry lives in Iowa City, where she works as a teacher, actor, proofreader, and editorial assistant with Rescue Press. She holds an MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. Her recent work appears in jubilat, West Branch Wired, and LVNG.

—

Photo by Emma Frances Logan on Unsplash