Hornet's Nest
John Muro
Quietly they went about their work,
with tiny patches of earth set beneath
their wings, perfecting this delicate
tear-drop of plaster beneath the porch
soffit. A tiny orifice, round as a quarter,
leads eyes up into the nub of nest.
On some days, they explode like rounds
of tracer fire shot from a hidden turret;
other times, the swarm sequesters
their bent bodies and lawless hearts
in chambers of communal moan,
each one owning a secret grief that
will, eventually, be extricated in a
torrent of wonted verses and venom.
Twice nominated for the Pushcart Prize and, more recently, the Best of the Net Award, John Muro is a resident of Connecticut, a graduate of Trinity College and a lover of all things chocolate. He has published two volumes of poems -- In the Lilac Hour and Pastoral Suite -- in 2020 and 2022, respectively. Both books are available on Amazon and elsewhere. John's poems have appeared in numerous literary journals and anthologies, including Acumen, Authora Australis, Barnstorm, Moria, River Heron, New Square, Sky Island and the valparaiso Review.