 | [Poems by Cary in] The Poetical Works Of Alice and Phoebe Cary |  |
TO A HONEY-BEE.
“Busy-body, busy-body,
Always on the wing.
Wait a bit, where you have lit,
And tell me why you sing.”
Always on the wing.
Wait a bit, where you have lit,
And tell me why you sing.”
Up, and in the air again,
Flap, flap, flap!
And now she stops, and now she drops
Into the rose's lap.
Flap, flap, flap!
And now she stops, and now she drops
Into the rose's lap.
“Come, just a minute come,
From your rose so red.”
Hum, hum, hum, hum—
That was all she said.
From your rose so red.”
Hum, hum, hum, hum—
That was all she said.
Busy-body, busy-body,
Always light and gay,
It seems to me, for all I see,
Your work is only play.
Always light and gay,
It seems to me, for all I see,
Your work is only play.
And now the day is sinking to
The goldenest of eves,
And she doth creep for quiet sleep
Among the lily-leaves.
The goldenest of eves,
And she doth creep for quiet sleep
Among the lily-leaves.
“Come, just a moment come,
From your snowy bed.”
Hum, hum, hum, hum—
That was all she said.
From your snowy bed.”
Hum, hum, hum, hum—
That was all she said.
But, the while I mused, I learned
The secret of her way:
Do my part with cheerful heart,
And turn my work to play.
The secret of her way:
Do my part with cheerful heart,
And turn my work to play.
| [Poems by Cary in] The Poetical Works Of Alice and Phoebe Cary | |