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Poem
June 3, 1830
The Rhode Island Republican
Newport, Newport County, Rhode Island
What is this article about?
A humorous dirge mourning Miss Ellen Gee of Kew, who died from a bee sting in the eye, featuring puns on her name and threats to the bee, warning others to avoid bees at tea.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
[BY REQUEST.]
DIRGE.
TO THE MEMORY OF MISS ELLEN GEE, OF KEW
Who died in consequence of being stung in the eye.
PEERLESS, yet hapless maid of Kew
Accomplish'd Ellen Gee!
Never again shall I and thou
Together sip our tea.
For ah! the fate! I know not why
Sent midst the flowers a Bee,
Which venomous stung her in the eye
So that she could not see.
Ellen exclaim'd, "Vile spiteful Bee!
If ever I catch thee
On jessamine, rosebud, or sweet pea,
I'll change your stinging glee.
I'll send you like a lamb or ewe
Across the Atlantic sea,
From your delightful village Kew
To distant Botany."
"A stream runs from my wounded eye,
Salt as the briny sea,
As rapid as the X or Y
The Ohio or Dee.
Then fare thee well, insensate Bee,
Who stung, nor yet knew why;
Since not for wealthy Durham's fee
Would I have lost my eye."
They bear with tears fair Ellen Gee
In funeral array;
A clay-cold corpse now doom'd to be,
Whilst I mourn her decay.
Ye nymphs of Kew, then shun each Bee,
List to the reason why!
For should a Bee see you at tea,
He'll surely sting your eye.
Now in a grave low deep in Kew
She's cold as cold can be,
Whilst robins sing upon an yew
Her dirge and elegy.
DIRGE.
TO THE MEMORY OF MISS ELLEN GEE, OF KEW
Who died in consequence of being stung in the eye.
PEERLESS, yet hapless maid of Kew
Accomplish'd Ellen Gee!
Never again shall I and thou
Together sip our tea.
For ah! the fate! I know not why
Sent midst the flowers a Bee,
Which venomous stung her in the eye
So that she could not see.
Ellen exclaim'd, "Vile spiteful Bee!
If ever I catch thee
On jessamine, rosebud, or sweet pea,
I'll change your stinging glee.
I'll send you like a lamb or ewe
Across the Atlantic sea,
From your delightful village Kew
To distant Botany."
"A stream runs from my wounded eye,
Salt as the briny sea,
As rapid as the X or Y
The Ohio or Dee.
Then fare thee well, insensate Bee,
Who stung, nor yet knew why;
Since not for wealthy Durham's fee
Would I have lost my eye."
They bear with tears fair Ellen Gee
In funeral array;
A clay-cold corpse now doom'd to be,
Whilst I mourn her decay.
Ye nymphs of Kew, then shun each Bee,
List to the reason why!
For should a Bee see you at tea,
He'll surely sting your eye.
Now in a grave low deep in Kew
She's cold as cold can be,
Whilst robins sing upon an yew
Her dirge and elegy.
What sub-type of article is it?
Elegy
Satire
What themes does it cover?
Death Mourning
What keywords are associated?
Ellen Gee
Bee Sting
Dirge Kew
Mourning Bee
Funeral Elegy
What entities or persons were involved?
[By Request.]
Poem Details
Title
Dirge. To The Memory Of Miss Ellen Gee, Of Kew Who Died In Consequence Of Being Stung In The Eye.
Author
[By Request.]
Subject
Death Of Miss Ellen Gee From Bee Sting In The Eye
Form / Style
Rhymed Verses
Key Lines
Peerless, Yet Hapless Maid Of Kew
Accomplish'd Ellen Gee!
Never Again Shall I And Thou
Together Sip Our Tea.
Ellen Exclaim'd, "Vile Spiteful Bee!
If Ever I Catch Thee
On Jessamine, Rosebud, Or Sweet Pea,
I'll Change Your Stinging Glee.
I'll Send You Like A Lamb Or Ewe
Across The Atlantic Sea,
From Your Delightful Village Kew
To Distant Botany."
Ye Nymphs Of Kew, Then Shun Each Bee,
List To The Reason Why!
For Should A Bee See You At Tea,
He'll Surely Sting Your Eye.