MLASJ 2008 Vol 21 John Valentine

Beefather

John Valentine

Mesh-covered prelate

with a cloak of quivering

bees, soft hands sectioning

the hives into dripping combs

of honey.

Congregational buzz, whir

of nectar and wing.

Elemental host.

Even the queen hummed

in the hovering air.

The holy family spun resin

out of gold.

The father swung his censer.

Everything eased.

Perfumed that potted love.

Sweet, that shimmering dawn.

___

John M. Valentine is a professor of philosophy at the Savannah College of Art and Design. His poetry has been published in The Sewanee Review, The Southern Poetry Review, The Midwest Quarterly, Snake Nation Review, The Adirondack Review, and others.