214
POEMS.
VANITY OF VANITIES.
EE to the blossom, moth to the flame;
Each to his passion; what's in a name?
Red clover 's sweetest, well the bee knows;
No bee can suck it; lonely it blows.
Each to his passion; what's in a name?
Red clover 's sweetest, well the bee knows;
No bee can suck it; lonely it blows.
Deep lies its honey, out of reach, deep;
What use in honey hidden to keep?
What use in honey hidden to keep?
Robbed in the autumn, starving for bread;
Who stops to pity a honey-bee dead?
Who stops to pity a honey-bee dead?
Star-flames are brightest, blazing the skies;
Only a hand's-breadth the moth-wing flies.
Only a hand's-breadth the moth-wing flies.
Fooled with a candle, scorched with a breath;
Poor little miller, a tawdry death!
Poor little miller, a tawdry death!
Life is a honey, life is a flame;
Each to his passion; what's in a name?
Each to his passion; what's in a name?
Swinging and circling, face to the sun,
Brief little planet, how it doth run!
Brief little planet, how it doth run!
Bee-time and moth-time, add the amount;
White heat and honey, who keeps the count?
White heat and honey, who keeps the count?