The Bees

A stunning and urgent collection that uses the natural world of bees as a lens to explore environmental crisis, community, and survival. In The Bees, Carol Ann Duffy creates a mesmerizing collection that takes readers into the intricate world of bees while addressing one of the most pressing environmental crises of our time. As bee populations face devastating decline worldwide, Duffy transforms this ecological emergency into poetry that is both beautiful and deeply alarming.

Through vivid, sensuous verse, Duffy explores the complex social structures of bee colonies, the ancient relationship between bees and flowers, and the crucial role these insects play in sustaining life on Earth. Her poems move between scientific observation and mythic imagination, creating a rich tapestry that celebrates the wonder of the natural world while mourning its destruction. The collection serves as both elegy and warning, using the bee as a powerful metaphor for community, industry, and the delicate balance that sustains all life.

Duffy's language buzzes with energy and urgency, capturing the movement and rhythm of bee life while addressing themes of environmental destruction, human responsibility, and the interconnectedness of all living things. A vital and timely collection that demonstrates poetry's power to make us see and care about the natural world with fresh eyes and renewed urgency.