Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TO A BEE, by ROBERT SOUTHEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TO A BEE, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Thou wert out betimes, thou busy busy bee
Last Line: Woe then for thee, thou busy busy bee!
Subject(s): Bees; Insects; Labor & Laborers; Nature - Religious Aspects; Teaching & Teachers; Beekeeping; Bugs; Work; Workers


THOU wert out betimes, thou busy busy bee!
As abroad I took my early way,
Before the cow from her resting place
Had risen up and left her trace
On the meadow, with dew so gray,
I saw thee, thou busy busy bee.

Thou wert working late, thou busy busy bee!
After the fall of the cistus flower,
When the primrose-tree blossom was ready to burst,
I heard thee last, as I saw thee first;
In the silence of the evening hour,
I heard thee, thou busy busy bee.

Thou art a miser, thou busy busy bee!
Late and early at employ;
Still on thy golden stores intent,
Thy summer in heaping and hoarding is spent,
What thy winter will never enjoy;
Wise lesson this for me, thou busy busy bee!

Little dost thou think, thou busy busy bee!
What is the end of thy toil.
When the latest flowers of the ivy are gone
And all thy work for the year is done,
Thy master comes for the spoil.
Woe then for thee, thou busy busy bee!





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