~l'Abbaye De Les Abeilles Poem by Mike Finley

In Caunes-Minervois the Cathares were put to the torch,
Twelfth century hippies whose simplicity offended
The powers that were.

This afternoon I read in the Abbey of St. Adelbert,
A hotel now, with motion sensors
For late-night stair climbing.

Between a crack in the courtyard wall
Honeybees exit to forage for flowers,
mute apart from a casual hum.

Narcissus, chrysanthemum, hydrangea and rose,
A friend to those who cannot
find the Latin words to pray.

The Albigensians have resumed their positions,
High in the ramparts they toil,
Stings sheathed.

They go about their business in the beauty
They spite the government and church,
Their only objective is sweetness.

No earthly power can tear them from their hive
And only light substantiates
Their song.