James Whitcomb Riley

The Bumblebee

1     You better not fool with a Bumblebee!—
2     Ef you don’t think they can sting—you’ll see!
3     They’re lazy to look at, an’ kind o’ go
4     Buzzin’ an’ bummin’ aroun’ so slow,
5     An’ ac’ so slouchy an’ all fagged out,
6     Danglin’ their legs as they drone about
7     The hollyhawks 'at they can’t climb in
8     'Ithout ist a-tumble-un out ag’in!
9     Wunst I watched one climb clean 'way
10   In a jimson-blossom, I did, one day,—
11   An’ I ist grabbed it—an’ nen let go—
12   An’ “Ooh-ooh! Honey! I told ye so!”
13   Says The Raggedy Man; an’ he ist run
14   An’ pullt out the stinger, an’ don’t laugh none,
15   An’ says: "They has be’n folks, I guess,
16   'At thought I wuz predjudust, more er less,—
17   Yit I still muntain 'at a Bumblebee
18   Wears out his welcome too quick fer me!"
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