PLB wrote: "but the drone comes to mind. I don't know that he experiences pain when mating but having one's genitals yanked out of their socket can hardly be called comforting".. Here's my poem, a double sonnet.

DRONEI have an onomatopoeic nameThat sounds a little like the noise I make.I have no sting and I am very tame.My sisters feed me for the family's sake,As with my sperm I may pass on their genes.Each afternoon I fly to congregateIn places where we might meet virgin queensAnd maybe have a chance to copulate.I'm told that's where the greatest danger lies:I guess that swallows try to snap us up.I see their movements with my compound eyesAnd don't give them a chance on me to sup.A queen is here! I get her lovely scent!I wonder what that danger warning meant?
I sense that virgin queen is in the mood:A thousand other drones here think the same.It's likely that a score will score. I'm crude:To mount while she's a virgin is my aim!I know that after me there will be more.She needs her spermatheca brimming full,But once deflowered by me she'll be a whore!If I'm first she's in luck; I'm the prize bull!She's just upwind - I think I'm getting close.That's her! I have her in my sight.I'm nearest, what is there to lose?Got her! I'll mate with all my might.WOW!!!OWWW!!!!

Chris
  

             ***********************************************
The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software.  For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html