Question
Drawn to Beauty
Drawn to Beauty
The Beekeeper
I am a beekeeper, and I have spent the last ten years safeguarding the pollinators of our country. Without bees, the cost of produce in our grocery stores could double or triple. During that time, I have smoked each of my hives. I have counted each successful bee and have looked for the mites and other diseases that take the bees. It is a difficult job, but it is one that is essential to the production of food sources in America. I have come to know the beauty of their dance.
In 2006, the Federal Government became alarmed at the reduction of the native bee population of the United States. Hives around our country were collapsing, or dying, despite our efforts to support the population. We had lost nearly seventy percent of our natural hives. I checked my hives each week during that time, looking for their success, and I counted bees, looked for the “combs” or the waxed areas of honey, and looked for new bees. I unfortunately found a nearly 50% reduction in my hives. Why were the bees dying?
I began walking the great open spaces of my state. Most of the fields of flowers had been replaced by crops that would support the cattle of the area, and there were very few natural flowers in the fields around my home. The bees were trying to survive this great change, but the alteration of their diet was causing a reduction in their population.
I will now start supporting this important part of our food chain with flowers around my house that will offer better nutritional sources. I will ask my neighbors to grow pollinator gardens to support a thriving population of bees. We can take action that will support our bees if we realize that 60% of our natural bee population is gone. How will we raise our crops without the bees that pollinate them?
The Bee
I flit from blossom to blossom, across the field
Breathing the amazing aroma of the flower.
I know the way to these blossoms.
I shall share it with the others.
I buzz and gather and repeat the process to enter
The blossom that gives me nourishment.
I begin to feel heavy.
There is something here that is unknown.
Can I make it to the hive for the vital dance?
My gossamer wings glitter in the sunlight.
I grow tired.
My flight has ended on a lavender plant.
My eternal harvest is nearing its end.
Has the rancher brought me to the end of flight?
I and my fellows wish to continue our amazing dance of life.
What will become of my hive?
Constructed Response Question
How does the free verse structure of the poem help the reader better understand the meaning of the poem?
Use at least two details from the passage to support your answer.
no challenging words and dont make it to smart
Drawn to Beauty
The Beekeeper
I am a beekeeper, and I have spent the last ten years safeguarding the pollinators of our country. Without bees, the cost of produce in our grocery stores could double or triple. During that time, I have smoked each of my hives. I have counted each successful bee and have looked for the mites and other diseases that take the bees. It is a difficult job, but it is one that is essential to the production of food sources in America. I have come to know the beauty of their dance.
In 2006, the Federal Government became alarmed at the reduction of the native bee population of the United States. Hives around our country were collapsing, or dying, despite our efforts to support the population. We had lost nearly seventy percent of our natural hives. I checked my hives each week during that time, looking for their success, and I counted bees, looked for the “combs” or the waxed areas of honey, and looked for new bees. I unfortunately found a nearly 50% reduction in my hives. Why were the bees dying?
I began walking the great open spaces of my state. Most of the fields of flowers had been replaced by crops that would support the cattle of the area, and there were very few natural flowers in the fields around my home. The bees were trying to survive this great change, but the alteration of their diet was causing a reduction in their population.
I will now start supporting this important part of our food chain with flowers around my house that will offer better nutritional sources. I will ask my neighbors to grow pollinator gardens to support a thriving population of bees. We can take action that will support our bees if we realize that 60% of our natural bee population is gone. How will we raise our crops without the bees that pollinate them?
The Bee
I flit from blossom to blossom, across the field
Breathing the amazing aroma of the flower.
I know the way to these blossoms.
I shall share it with the others.
I buzz and gather and repeat the process to enter
The blossom that gives me nourishment.
I begin to feel heavy.
There is something here that is unknown.
Can I make it to the hive for the vital dance?
My gossamer wings glitter in the sunlight.
I grow tired.
My flight has ended on a lavender plant.
My eternal harvest is nearing its end.
Has the rancher brought me to the end of flight?
I and my fellows wish to continue our amazing dance of life.
What will become of my hive?
Constructed Response Question
How does the free verse structure of the poem help the reader better understand the meaning of the poem?
Use at least two details from the passage to support your answer.
no challenging words and dont make it to smart
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The free verse structure of the poem helps the reader understand its meaning by creating a sense of freedom and natural flow that mirrors the movements of the bee. Unlike traditional poetry with strict rules, free verse allows the thoughts and feelings of the bee to be expressed in a more fluid and organic way.
First, the lines of the poem reflect the bee's journey as it "flit[s] from blossom to blossom." This movement is captured in the lack of a set rhyme or rhythm, which makes the reader feel as if they are experiencing the bee's flight in real time. This structure emphasizes the beauty of the bee's pollination work, highlighting how important its role is in nature.
Second, phrases like "I begin to feel heavy" and "my flight has ended on a lavender plant" convey the bee's struggle and exhaustion. The free verse allows these moments of vulnerability to stand out, showing the challenges the bee faces in a changing environment. This helps the reader connect emotionally with the bee and understand the urgency of its situation.
Overall, the free verse format not only reflects the natural world but also deepens the reader's appreciation for the bee's vital role in life.
First, the lines of the poem reflect the bee's journey as it "flit[s] from blossom to blossom." This movement is captured in the lack of a set rhyme or rhythm, which makes the reader feel as if they are experiencing the bee's flight in real time. This structure emphasizes the beauty of the bee's pollination work, highlighting how important its role is in nature.
Second, phrases like "I begin to feel heavy" and "my flight has ended on a lavender plant" convey the bee's struggle and exhaustion. The free verse allows these moments of vulnerability to stand out, showing the challenges the bee faces in a changing environment. This helps the reader connect emotionally with the bee and understand the urgency of its situation.
Overall, the free verse format not only reflects the natural world but also deepens the reader's appreciation for the bee's vital role in life.