King Bee Blues

King Bee Blues

By George Elliott Clarke George Elliott Clarke
I’m an ol’ king bee, honey,
Buzzin’ from flower to flower.
I’m an ol’ king bee, sweets,
Hummin’ from flower to flower.
Women got good pollen;
I get some every hour.

There’s Lily in the valley
And sweet honeysuckle Rose too;
There’s Lily in the valley
And sweet honeysuckle Rose too.
And there’s pretty black-eyed Susan,
Perfect as the night is blue.

You don’t have to trust
A single, black word I say.
You don’t have to trust
A single, black word I say.
But don’t be surprised
If I sting your flower today.

“King Bee Blues” from Whylah Falls. Copyright (c) 2001 George Elliot Clarke. Used by permission of Polestar Book Publishers. Polestar is an imprint of Raincoast Books.

Source: Whylah Falls (Rain Coast Books, 1990)

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Poet George Elliott Clarke

Subjects Music, Love, The Body, Nature, Arts & Sciences, Relationships, Trees & Flowers, Men & Women, Animals, Desire, Infatuation & Crushes

Poetic Terms Rhymed Stanza, Refrain, Metaphor

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Poems by George Elliott Clarke

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SUBJECT Music, Love, The Body, Nature, Arts & Sciences, Relationships, Trees & Flowers, Men & Women, Animals, Desire, Infatuation & Crushes

Poetic Terms Rhymed Stanza, Refrain, Metaphor

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Originally appeared in Poetry magazine.

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