The Death of BEE

In the palace grounds

The flower beds 

And there the yellow rose 

With petals faintly edged 

Pale red  

And clinging to them 

One dead BEE 

How did BEE die? 

I 

Wondered loud

And then 

It came to me 

The announcement 

On the radio

From the Ministry 

For Bees 

and Moths and Flies and Fleas 

and Pesticides 

with Neocotinoids

"We are unable to tell you 

How BEE died 

"For the fate of BEE 

Is now protected data

"And therefore confidential . . . "

That's the latest buzz 

The End.

Footnotes:
1) One of the problems highlighted again recently, not covered in this poem, is the fact neocotinoids accumulate in the earth from year to year, and therefore affect earthworms and birds.
2) The Austrian Government, as indicated in the poem, is so far refusing is release data on bee colony collapse and the use of neocotinoids citing data protection and confidentiality.
3) Can it be a coincidence that there is currently a move to prevent local sale and exchange of seeds between smallholders at the same time as attempts are being made to introduce patented gm and neocotinoid treated seeds on a wider scale?
4) One organic bee farmer in Burgenland, Austria, for example, recently reported only 10 of his 26 bee colonies surviving the winter. The honeycombs were full and there was plenty of food but there were no bees to be found.