It was the year before last that br I started to notice it. br br Bees wandered into the house br then didn’t remember the way back br br Bees. Whose sense of direction used to be br great than any Indian scout; br br as if mankind had lost its most valuable gift br -what might that be? br br Scientists are still working on the reasons. br There were more lost bees last year; br br when they’re half exhausted and quieten down, br staying on the window pane for a few second more, br br I take a jam jar and a piece of paper br and take them to the door br br talking to them as I did when br I buried that baby swallow when I was four; br br indecipherable words that I would use br to a cat run over in the road, br br a child in pain; some sort of sounds br of consolation for what’s beyond words anyway br br that only music could express. br It’s ancient: you should talk to bees; br br tell them of all that affects the house, the family; br when there’s a death, you put a piece of black cloth br br on the hive. In return, they do things for you br that are beyond your notice or their explanation. br br How can I tell them, we’re so sorry for you, we don’t know, br when we do we’ll tell you; it’s probably our fault, br br chemicals and stuff. So far this year, only one br huge bumble-bee, I couldn’t catch it; br br it hid from me.