THE honey-bird, my children, Lives far and far away, Where burning suns are beating Through Afric's tropic day. There, deep in sombre forests, Are colonies of bees, Who hive their golden honey In hearts of hollow trees. The hunters seek to find it; Their eyes are sharp and bright; Their forms are lithe and agile; Their steps are quick and light. But they might seek forever, Forever and a day, Unless to find the honey A bird should show the way,— A lovely bird that flashes With sudden arrow-flight, And then, returning, utters A cry of rare delight: A cheerful "Follow! Follow!" As if it fain would say, "The bees and I are neighbors, And I can tell the way." That ringing "Follow! Follow!" Allures the hunters on Until their quest is ended, The feast of nectar won. And which hath sweeter promise, The honey-bird or bee; I tell you, little children, It is not plain to me. We cannot all make honey; But some can find it out, And show its hive to others,— A gracious thing, no doubt. And, in this world of thickets, And tangles, if you please, One likes to know the birds who Are neighbors to the bees. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE GARDEN OF ADONIS by EMMA LAZARUS THE DISPUTE OF THE HEART AND BODY OF FRANCOIS VILLON by FRANCOIS VILLON BLACK SHEEP by RICHARD EUGENE BURTON THE PLEASURES OF IMAGINATION; A POEM. ENLARGED VERSION: BOOK 2 by MARK AKENSIDE A SPIRITUAL AND WELL-ORDERED MIND by HENRY ALFORD |