James Whitcomb Riley

7 October 1849 - 22 July 1916 / Greenfield, Indiana

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!"
136 Total read