honey bees

when the poet wrote of honey bees,
they filled me with delight,
but when I saw one buzzing by,
it gave me quite a fright!

then I watched it gently land
upon the petal of a flower.
i waited in its presence-
let it touch my heart with wonder.

a bitter thing, the bee’s sharp sting,
but his labor the most sweet.
why shrink in fear from something dear,
its blessings swift forget?