Walter de la Mare

The Bees' Song

Thousandz of thornz there be

On the Rozez where gozez

The Zebra of Zee:

Sleek, striped, and hairy,

The steed of the Fairy

Princess of Zee.


Heavy with blossomz be

The Rozez that growzez

In the thickets of Zee.

Where grazez the Zebra,

Marked Abracadeeebra,

Of the Princess of Zee.


And he nozez that poziez

Of the Rozez that growzez

So luvez'm and free,

With an eye, dark and wary,

In search of a Fairy,

Whose Rozez he knowzez

Were not honeyed for he,

But to breathe a sweet incense

To solace the Princess

Of far-away Zee.