The Burden of the Bees.

New Zealand Illustrated Magazine, Volume V, Issue 1, 1 October 1901, Page 8

The Burden of the Bees.

Well know'st thou how my thoughts hie home to rest ; Well know'st thou where that home is — close by thee : Ev'n so from roaming wide, eastward and west, Certain when evening falls, home hies the bee. Sweetly that lab'rer in his flight is fraught ; And gather'd sweetness clings about my thought. His mark all flowers are, or good or ill ; Thro' all the earth my thought pries where it will. The barren he heeds not ; the stored he sips ; So my thought leaves or loves its treasure's lips. There in the droning hive a thousand bees Amass sweet treasures for a treasured queen ; My thoughts, as laden, busy are as these, And never long from thee, fair crowned, have been. The flower is rifled of its troye — false bee ! But while thou sleep'st it's filled for thee again. My heart is rifled of its joy — ah me ! Yet thoughts return, and load once more their wain ! The flowers shut when light melts from the sky, And shuts my heart when sleep stands station'd by. Flowei's shut, bees sleep, and soft clouds fade in heav'n, Hearts droop, thoughts fail and night is born of even. Past prisoned in one flower, one greedy bee ! One thought to-night bears my heart company. The poppy bends her head ; the great sun flower Stands in the dusk a disc of golden gleam ; My life 6'day droops in sleep's quiet bower, My life o'night stands proud, a royal dream. Johannes C. Akdersen.