John Zedolik, one poem

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.