Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE BEE; AN EPIGRAM: STREPHON TO DELIA by ROYALL TYLER

First Line: LOVELY DELIA, WHY SO COY?
Last Line: I FEAR, LIKE BEES, HE'D RAISE A SWELLING.
Subject(s): BEES; INSECTS; BEEKEEPING; BUGS;

LOVELY Delia, why so coy?
Why, in youth, abstemious prove?
Come, kiss, with me, the cup of joy,
And sip the honeyed sweets of love!

See, yon bee, on bud and flower,
Dip his fervid sting in sweets,
Or, soaring in adventurous hour,
Attempt the roses of thy cheeks!

Ah, luckless youth, forbear to sing;
Your very metaphor's repelling,
For should my Strephon dart love's sting,
I fear, like bees, he'd raise a swelling.



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