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Poem
April 19, 1882
The Lambertville Record
Lambertville, Hunterdon County, New Jersey
What is this article about?
A whimsical narrative poem about a mischievous blue-bottle fly planning household pranks on baby, dog, and grandpa, but it meets a sudden end when devoured by a spider.
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THE BLUE-BOTTLE FLY.
Buzzing and gay In the early dawn,
Fresh from a nap on the parlor wall,
Out for a fight over garden and lawn,
Fearing no trouble and dreading no fall,
Came a fly-
A lively, frolicsome, blue-bottle fly-
And his feet
Were as neat
And his style
As complete.
As his brain
Was replete
With the mischief that laughed in his eye!
"What glorious fun I'll have to-day,
When the baby's asleep and the nurse away;
When Rover lies by the kitchen door:
I'll wake them both and make them roar!
Oh, what larks!"
Cried the rollicking, reckless, blue-bottle fly;
"What a cry,"
Said the fly,
"There will be
After me.
When I've done
With my fun"
And he wickedly winked his wee eye!
"Then I'll go and dance on grandpa's head.
While he struggles to brush me away:
And tickle his ear till he'll wish I was dead!
And over the table at dinner I'll play
Back and forth.
And feast on crumbs from a freshly-baked pie!
And I'll sip
From the lip
Of each glass
That may pass
All sweet things
Dinner brings!"
Quoth this riotous blue-bottle fly
But, alas for the plans he had laid!
And alas for the day Just begun!
For this fly soon lit in the grateful shade.
To escape the hot rays of the sun.
And to dream
Of the sights that should soon greet his eyes,
When, unseen,
From the green
Of a limb
Above him,
On his headland
Fell a spider,
who coolly devoured that blue-bottle fly.
Buzzing and gay In the early dawn,
Fresh from a nap on the parlor wall,
Out for a fight over garden and lawn,
Fearing no trouble and dreading no fall,
Came a fly-
A lively, frolicsome, blue-bottle fly-
And his feet
Were as neat
And his style
As complete.
As his brain
Was replete
With the mischief that laughed in his eye!
"What glorious fun I'll have to-day,
When the baby's asleep and the nurse away;
When Rover lies by the kitchen door:
I'll wake them both and make them roar!
Oh, what larks!"
Cried the rollicking, reckless, blue-bottle fly;
"What a cry,"
Said the fly,
"There will be
After me.
When I've done
With my fun"
And he wickedly winked his wee eye!
"Then I'll go and dance on grandpa's head.
While he struggles to brush me away:
And tickle his ear till he'll wish I was dead!
And over the table at dinner I'll play
Back and forth.
And feast on crumbs from a freshly-baked pie!
And I'll sip
From the lip
Of each glass
That may pass
All sweet things
Dinner brings!"
Quoth this riotous blue-bottle fly
But, alas for the plans he had laid!
And alas for the day Just begun!
For this fly soon lit in the grateful shade.
To escape the hot rays of the sun.
And to dream
Of the sights that should soon greet his eyes,
When, unseen,
From the green
Of a limb
Above him,
On his headland
Fell a spider,
who coolly devoured that blue-bottle fly.
What sub-type of article is it?
Ballad
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Blue Bottle Fly
Mischief
Pranks
Spider
Punishment
Poem Details
Title
The Blue Bottle Fly.
Form / Style
Rhymed Stanzas With Refrain
Key Lines
Came A Fly
A Lively, Frolicsome, Blue Bottle Fly
And His Feet
Were As Neat
And His Style
As Complete.
As His Brain
Was Replete
With The Mischief That Laughed In His Eye!
"What Glorious Fun I'll Have To Day,
When The Baby's Asleep And The Nurse Away;
When Rover Lies By The Kitchen Door:
I'll Wake Them Both And Make Them Roar!
Oh, What Larks!"
Cried The Rollicking, Reckless, Blue Bottle Fly;
But, Alas For The Plans He Had Laid!
And Alas For The Day Just Begun!
For This Fly Soon Lit In The Grateful Shade.
To Escape The Hot Rays Of The Sun.
And To Dream
Of The Sights That Should Soon Greet His Eyes,
When, Unseen,
From The Green
Of A Limb
Above Him,
On His Headland
Fell A Spider,
Who Coolly Devoured That Blue Bottle Fly.