King Bee Blues

By 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.

Copyright Credit: “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)