July 1st

Mist-hung skies

their usual blue, rainbows

falling

like smoked bees, hives sucked

clean, workers drained; bears

lick their chops, fingers stained

sticky and sweeet.

Honey for tea

honey for toast

honey they'll sell back to hives,

to worker bee ghosts, bent-backed

used up

mauled.

Paws passed through hives

waving rainbow flags

in place of white,

corporate logos coloured with pride,

Here’s a t-shirt, “love is love”, you’ll

love the low price of $32.99,

don’t forget the matching pins

and backpacks and

hoodies and onesies and

lanyards and hats and coffees and

stickers and beanies and

the quality’s great! The same products

you know and love, just a small

rainbow tax

to show your pride.

Check the sales rack July 1st

if you're still feeling proud

at a discount.

You are proud,

aren’t you?

Aren’t you?