Mindful Miles

Today, as I walked the familiar paths here in Poole, amidst the gentle hum of the day, my eyes fell upon a sight that brought me to a quiet halt.

There, on the cold pavement, lay a solitary bee. Not just a lifeless insect, but a tableau of silent heroism.

Its tiny body, usually a blur of industrious motion, was now perfectly still. Its delicate, iridescent wings, so often a whirring testament to life’s vibrant work, were folded neatly together, draped over its chest like a miniature, polished shield.

It lay there, a true warrior, dead with its armor perfectly placed, guarding its quiet heart. This small creature, so often dismissed, had tirelessly journeyed from bloom to bloom, a vital thread in the tapestry of our world.

Each flight was a mission, each fuzzy leg laden with life-giving pollen, each hum a song of tireless contribution to the cycles that sustain us all.

It had known the warmth of a thousand suns, the sweetness of countless flowers, and the relentless drive of purpose.

And now, its watch was over. No more frantic buzz, no more determined flight. Just a profound stillness, a final, poignant salute from a tiny hero.

It rested, having poured its entire being into its sacred task, a testament to the power held within the smallest of lives.

Lying there on the unforgiving grey, beneath the indifferent sky, this little knight of the garden had found its eternal rest. A quiet, moving reminder of the countless, unseen labors that make our world bloom.

Sleep well, tiny warrior. Your shield is well-earned, and your mission, beautifully complete.