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My Bees: An Allegory

 "O bees, sweet bees!" I said, "that nearest field 
Is shining white with fragrant immortelles. 
Fly swiftly there and drain those honey wells." 
Then, spicy pines the sunny hive to shield, 
I set, and patient for the autumn's yield 
Of sweet I waited. 
When the village bells 
Rang frosty clear, and from their satin cells 
The chestnuts leaped, rejoicing, I unsealed 
My hive. 
Alas! no snowy honey there 
Was stored. My wicked bees had borne away 
Their queen and left no trace. 
That very day, 
An idle drone who sauntered through the air 
I tracked and followed, and he led me where 
My truant bees and stolen honey lay. 
Twice faithless bees! They had sought out to eat 
Rank, bitter herbs. The honey was not sweet.






Book: Reflection on the Important Things