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Poem
January 15, 1857
Yorkville Enquirer
York, York County, South Carolina
What is this article about?
A didactic poem observing the industriousness of nature—birds, bees, ants, flowers, planets, and breezes—to urge humans, as lords of creation, to embrace labor in their urban fields rather than idleness.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
Select Poetry.
THERE'S WORK ENOUGH TO DO.
The black bird early leaves its rest,
To meet the smiling morn,
And gather fragments for its nest
From upland, wood, and lawn.
The busy bee that wings its way
Mid sweets of varied hue,
And every flower would seem to say—
"There's work enough to do."
The cowslip and the spreading vine,
The daisy in the grass,
The snow-drop and the eglantine
Preach sermons as we pass.
The ant, within its cavern deep,
Would bid us labor too,
And writes upon his heap—
"There's work enough to do."
The planets, at their Maker's will,
Move onward in their cars,
For nature's will is never still—
Progressive as the stars!
The leaves that flutter in the air,
And summer breezes too,
One solemn truth to man declare—
"There's work enough to do."
Who then can sleep when all around
Is active, fresh, and free!
Shall man—creation's lord—be found
Less busy than the bee?
Our courts and alleys are the field,
If men would search them through,
That best of sweets of labor yield,
And "there's enough to do."
THERE'S WORK ENOUGH TO DO.
The black bird early leaves its rest,
To meet the smiling morn,
And gather fragments for its nest
From upland, wood, and lawn.
The busy bee that wings its way
Mid sweets of varied hue,
And every flower would seem to say—
"There's work enough to do."
The cowslip and the spreading vine,
The daisy in the grass,
The snow-drop and the eglantine
Preach sermons as we pass.
The ant, within its cavern deep,
Would bid us labor too,
And writes upon his heap—
"There's work enough to do."
The planets, at their Maker's will,
Move onward in their cars,
For nature's will is never still—
Progressive as the stars!
The leaves that flutter in the air,
And summer breezes too,
One solemn truth to man declare—
"There's work enough to do."
Who then can sleep when all around
Is active, fresh, and free!
Shall man—creation's lord—be found
Less busy than the bee?
Our courts and alleys are the field,
If men would search them through,
That best of sweets of labor yield,
And "there's enough to do."
What sub-type of article is it?
Ode
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Nature Seasons
What keywords are associated?
Work Ethic
Nature Diligence
Moral Labor
Busy Bee
Ant Toil
Stars Motion
Human Idleness
Poem Details
Title
There's Work Enough To Do.
Form / Style
Rhymed Quatrains
Key Lines
The Busy Bee That Wings Its Way
Mid Sweets Of Varied Hue,
And Every Flower Would Seem To Say—
"There's Work Enough To Do."
Who Then Can Sleep When All Around
Is Active, Fresh, And Free!
Shall Man—Creation's Lord—Be Found
Less Busy Than The Bee?
Our Courts And Alleys Are The Field,
If Men Would Search Them Through,
That Best Of Sweets Of Labor Yield,
And "There's Enough To Do."