Page:Songs and Sonnets (1906).djvu/85

Rh

The queen and all her acolytes
 * Are carefully defended,

The drones and all the lesser lights
 * Are also well attended;

That they can fashion queen or drone Most undeniably is shown.

They practise every secret art,
 * Nature herself defying,

And to the death each plays his part—
 * 'Tis really stupefying;

One questions if great Socrates Knew half as much as honey-bees!

I almost feel I should forsake—
 * It seems such desecration—

The honey that I used to take
 * With so much delectation

As if one ate the very flowers— The hearts of happy summer hours!

If ever country life to you
 * Seems dull and overrated,

And you would have a point of view
 * Both fresh and elevated.

Read up on Bees, by Maeterlinck, He'll show you how to see and think!