A Wasp and a Bee.
Reading edition
A wasp met a bee that was just buzzing by,
And he said, little cousin, can you tell me why
You are loved so much better by people than I?
My back shines as bright and as yellow as gold,
And my shape is most elegant too, to behold;
Yet nobody likes me for that, I am told.
Ah! cousin, the bee said, ’tis all very true.
But if I were half as much mischief to do,
Indeed they would love me no better than you.
You have a fine shape and a delicate wing,
They own you are handsome, but then there’s one thing
They cannot put up with, and that is your sting.
My coat is quite homely and plain, as you see,
Yet nobody ever is angry with me,
Because I’m a humble and innocent bee.
From this little story, let people beware,
Because, like the wasp, if ill-natured they are,
They will never be loved, if they’re ever so fair.
j.t.