Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE HEN AND THE HONEY-BEE, by ANONYMOUS


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE HEN AND THE HONEY-BEE, by                    
First Line: "a lazy hen, -- the story goes"
Last Line: Are doing all the useful labor!
Subject(s): Bees;hens;insects;labor & Laborers; Beekeeping;bugs


A LAZY Hen, -- the story goes, --
Loquacious, pert, and self-conceited,
Espied a Bee upon a rose,
And thus the busy insect greeted:

"Say, what's the use of such as you,
(Excuse the freedom of a neighbor!)
Who gad about, and never do
A single act of useful labor?

"I've marked you well for many a day,
In garden blooms and meadow-clover;
Now here, now there, in wanton play;
From morn to night an idle rover.

"While I discreetly bide at home,
A faithful wife, the best of mothers,
About the fields you idly roam,
Without the least regard for others.

"While I lay eggs, or hatch them out,
You seek the flowers most sweet and fragrant,
And, sipping honey, stroll about,
At best a good-for-nothing vagrant!"

"Nay," said the Bee, "you do me wrong;
I'm useful too; perhaps you doubt it,
Because -- though toiling all day long --
I scorn to make a fuss about it!
"While you, with every egg that cheers
Your daily task, must stop and hammer
The news in other people's ears,
Till they are deafened with the clamor:

"Come now with me, and see my hive,
And note how folks may work in quiet;
To useful arts much more alive
Than you with all your cackling riot!"

L'ENVOI.

The Poet, one may plainly see
Who reads this fable at his leisure,
Is represented by the Bee,
Who joins utility to pleasure;
While in this self-conceited Hen
We note the Poet's silly neighbor,
Who thinks the noisy "working-men"
Are doing all the useful labor!





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