Jan 1, 2018
Bee, Still
The clover carries the memory
of the ancient bee sting
the flower floats the imagery
of the assailant barely seen
that delivered its duty with perfect grace
to the pink toe of a five-year lad
who would unknowingly displace
the gatherer from its goal
so the prick and pain sticks
like honey stretched through sweet
and not-so years, filaments to remind
my safe, grown toes to tread with clear
sight, unshod or not, through the clumps
green and summers yet unseen
For thirteen years John Zedolik taught English and Latin in a private school. Eventually, he wrote a dissertation that focused on the pragmatic comedy of the Canterbury Tales, thereby completing his Ph.D. in English. Currently, he is an adjunct instructor at a number of universities in and around Pittsburgh. However, he has had many jobs in his life including archaeological field assistant, obituary writer, and television-screen-factory worker, which—he hopes—have contributed in positive ways to his writing. John has had poems published in such journals as Aries, Ascent Aspirations (CAN), The Chaffin Journal, Common Ground Review, The Journal (UK), Pulsar Poetry Webzine (UK), Third Wednesday, U.S. 1 Worksheets, and in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He also has numerous poems forthcoming this year, and into next year. His iPhone is now his primary poetry notebook, and he hopes his use of technology in regard to this ancient art form continues to be fruitful.