A beekeeping song

A beekeeping song

I said one day to the bee

Rest a little now,

Your striving to be like

This pretty blue butterfly

On the rose or the pansy,

See, it swoons in day-dreaming

Yes... but, me, I'm in a hurry,

Said the bee to me, in passing.

Showing her the dragonfly,

I said to her, another day

Come, from dawn to dusk,

Dance like her, when it's your turn

Don't you admire it, subtle,

Waltzing over there on the lake?

Yes... but me, I am useful

Said the bee to me, leaving.

Yesterday, before the door

Of its little temple of gold

I caught sight of it, half dead,

Heavy with its pollen again

Rest yourself, poor creature

I said to her while helping her

Yes... when my task is done,

The bee said to me as she died.