queen bees

there is a queen
bee
in every pack
of young girls.
you see them
out
and about
in stores or
coffee shops,
the pecking order
is a fine
line
of cool
and not cool.
pretty and plain.
they are
in or they are out,
subtly ranked
among one
another.
it doesn't
end there.
the order stays
put
for most of their
lives,
through the work
years,
and marriage,
raising children.
and even in
the nursing home
you can still see
who is
the queen bee
and that
her stinger
is alive and well.