Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE HONEY-BIRD, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The honey-bird, my children
Last Line: Are neighbors to the bees.
Alternate Author Name(s): Van Deth, Gerrit, Mrs.
Subject(s): Birds; Children; Forests; Hunting; Childhood; Woods; Hunters


THE honey-bird, my children,
Lives far and far away,
Where burning suns are beating
Through Afric's tropic day.

There, deep in sombre forests,
Are colonies of bees,
Who hive their golden honey
In hearts of hollow trees.

The hunters seek to find it;
Their eyes are sharp and bright;
Their forms are lithe and agile;
Their steps are quick and light.

But they might seek forever,
Forever and a day,
Unless to find the honey
A bird should show the way,—

A lovely bird that flashes
With sudden arrow-flight,
And then, returning, utters
A cry of rare delight:

A cheerful "Follow! Follow!"
As if it fain would say,
"The bees and I are neighbors,
And I can tell the way."

That ringing "Follow! Follow!"
Allures the hunters on
Until their quest is ended,
The feast of nectar won.

And which hath sweeter promise,
The honey-bird or bee;
I tell you, little children,
It is not plain to me.

We cannot all make honey;
But some can find it out,
And show its hive to others,—
A gracious thing, no doubt.

And, in this world of thickets,
And tangles, if you please,
One likes to know the birds who
Are neighbors to the bees.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net