Word-Bird presents...
To hibernate?
by
Fliss
Late December, 2025​​​​​
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At first, I think the small and silent blob
that’s in the ceiling corner overhead
might be a spider, legs curled up in shock,
or napping rather stiffly – maybe dead?
I shuffle closer slowly, peer again;
it’s not a spider! It’s a little clump
of ladybirds, as many as sixteen,
and resting very snugly, head to rump.
Returning to my chair, I sit and smile,
and wonder what it’s like to hibernate
with fifteen friends, in red-and-black attire;
next year, perhaps, I’ll aim to set a date.
We might miss feeling festive, I suppose,
unless our torpors somehow took us through
a garden party portal! Sun-warmed stones
and fruity treats, washed down with flower dew.
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Published in Pulsebeat Poetry Journal, January 2026
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W.-B.’s notes: “I should like to begin by thanking David Stephenson, Editor of Pulsebeat, for accepting this little poem. It is always an honour for Fliss to appear in the journal, which is one of our favourites. We enjoy reading not only the poetry but also the Editor’s Note, which in this issue featured a tapping torque test setup with interesting photographs, here.“
Fliss
My thanks to Word-Bird, and also to David, of course, for publishing the poem amidst so much strong writing in the current issue of Pulsebeat. It is indeed an honour to appear there.​
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This is not the first insect poem that has been published in Well Met! W.-B. and I have an excellent friend who takes an interest in entomological matters, and we enjoy sharing our insect stories. For health reasons, we like to receive plenty of fresh air while indoors, with the windows open as often as possible. This means we receive quite a lot of visitors! Some seem intent on departure as soon as they’ve arrived, in which case we assist with this; others prefer to stay for a while.
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There was quite an influx of ladybirds over the summer, perhaps because of all the heat. Their numbers dwindled considerably through the autumn, such that it was a surprise to see the little clump near the end of last year. While contemplating hibernation, I realised that I rather like the cold crisp conditions of winter here, but the garden party does sound fun. I like fruit too!
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As always, our thanks to all the poets who have contributed to this issue, and to all our readers as well. We wish you many a fruity treat through the month ahead and hope you’ll be back for March, our twelfth issue!
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