“A greeting that not only gives great pleasure but illuminates our lives – like a message in a bottle”—Robert McCrum, writer and editor

“Ten Poems about Bees” is a title in the “Instead of a Card” series, based on the idea that sending a greeting card is a lovely gesture, and sending a booklet of poetry an even more meaningful one.

Bees work hard, and there is something in their diligence that touches us. Most of us see only a fraction of their absorbing routines, but their “beelines” they make through our parks and gardens are more than enough to suggest their dedication:

…they make a life for themselves that knows
no let-up through hours of exploration and return,
their thighs golden with pollen…

from “Back they sputter” by Eamon Grennan

Here are poems about getting stung and about a bee-keeping Divinity master in a boarding school whose hives are far more appealing than PE lessons. This heady mix of poems is sure to please anyone who delights in bees, flowers, and gardens—or indeed the golden taste of honey!

The selection is introduced by environmentalist and broadcaster Brigit Strawbridge Howard.

Each pamphlet is gorgeous both inside and out, beautifully produced with a cardstock cover, Ex Libris bookplate, and a bookmark gift enclosure with space for an inscription to the recipient.

With a cover created by a leading contemporary artist and poems hand-picked to speak to every kind of reader, each “Instead of a Card” title offers a richly rewarding reading journey. Produced using biodegradable and sustainable materials.

Poems by Ciaran Berry, David Briggs, Miriam Darlington, Heid E. Erdrich, Eamon Grennan, Selima Hill, Carola Luther, Paula Meehan, Pascale Petit, and Jean Toomer.

5.5” x 8.25”; 20 pages