James Whitcomb Riley

The Bumblebee

You better not fool with a Bumblebee!—

Ef you don't think they can sting—you'll see!

They're lazy to look at, an' kind o' go

Buzzin' an' bummin' aroun' so slow,

An' ac' so slouchy an' all fagged out,

Danglin' their legs as they drone about

The hollyhawks 'at they can't climb in

'Ithout ist a-tumble-un out ag'in!

Wunst I watched one climb clean 'way

In a jimson-blossom, I did, one day—

An' I ist grabbed  it—an' nen let go—

An' "Ooh-ooh! Honey! I told ye so!" 

Says The Raggedy Man; an' he ist run

An' pullt out the stinger, an' don't laugh none,

An' says: "They has  be'n folks, I guess,

'At thought I wuz predjudust, more er less—

Yit I still muntain 'at a Bumblebee

Wears out his welcome too quick fer me!"