Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE BUTTERFLY, by ADELAIDE O'KEEFFE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE BUTTERFLY, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The butterfly, an idle thing
Last Line: Nor be a butterfly.
Alternate Author Name(s): O'keefe, Adelaide
Subject(s): Butterflies; Insects; Bugs


THE Butterfly, an idle thing,
Nor honey makes, nor yet can sing,
As do the bee and bird;
Nor does it, like the prudent ant,
Lay up the grain for times of want,
A wise and cautious hoard.

My youth is but a summer's day:
Then like the bee and ant I'll lay
A store of learning by;
And though from flower to flower I rove,
My stock of wisdom I'll improve
Nor be a butterfly.






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