Nectar of the Divine

by John Herlihy

Ah, for one meager taste of a droplet of honey,

That seeps into the tastebuds of the tantalized tongue.

Glistening in sunlight with the shine of burnished gold,

Glorious honey once proclaimed as nectar of the gods.

The Promised Land flowing with milk and honey. (Exodus 3:8)

Proverbs 24:13-14 calls honey “sweetness of wisdom and knowledge.

John the Baptist’s diet was “of locusts and wild honey. (Matthew 3:4)

While Jesus ate honeycomb after the resurrection. (Luke 24:42)

The Quran enshrines honey as healing gift and revelatory sign.

Paradisal rivers flow with water, milk, wine and purified honey. (47:15)

Honey as a healing remedy and as a cure for humankind, (16:68-69)

An explicit sign for the generations of God’s wisdom and providence.

Kinds and varieties of honey depend on location, source and season,

Wildflower honey a blend of flowers reflecting the changes of season.

The famed Sidr honey from Yemen considered sacred and medicinal,

Acacia honey light and floral, Manuka honey is prized for its effects.

Petrograd honey drawn from the vast expanse of the Russian Steppes,

Renowned black forest honey from the sanctuaries of the Schwartzwald.

Forest honey drawn from native trees such as linden, acacia, and chestnut,

White forest honey where bees collect honeydew from silver fir trees.

Ancient Egypt used honey in offerings, as medicine and for embalming.

Shakespeare uses honey for persuasive speech and seductive charm.

Emily Dickinson mentions honey as a symbol of nature’s quiet gifts.

Dante to symbolize spiritual sweetness, Sufi poetry for divine love.

This mysterious ambrosia but the evacuation of drunken bees,

That roam through the steppes, forests and meadows ever seeking.

Seeking to plunge themselves into the exposed heart of the flower,

On bended knees they gorge freely of red roses and lavender buds.

Bees that were once associated with the sweet tears of the sun god Ra,

Have travelled through the ages of the world with little care of the hour.

They industriously go about their business until twilight ends the day,

In return for their rigors, a taste of nectar in the teardrop of the Divine.

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Copyright © John Herlihy

Wednesday 17 December 2025