The Dirigible Balloon
Poetry for Children

The Bees' Needs (I'm Buzzing)

Listen to Lesley read her poem ...
The bees in the garden are golden blond
And they say a number of things to me:
Give me Thymus and Alliums
And Fragaria Vesca - Wild Strawberries, and
I’m buzzing, look at me!
They say Honey for tea. Same colour as me!

The bees in the garden have stripey fur and they say important things to me:
They say Big up this Pink Geranium!
They say Much love for this purple Chrysanthemum!
They say Having trouble staying in this Nasturtium
So I’ll forage on the Borage.

Some bees in the garden have orange bums and even they say stuff to me.
Verbena Bonariensis entrances my senses.
They say what’s this? Lychnis?!
They say Look out boys, there’s a white spider.
She’ll eat you alive. From the inside. (She’s in the Lavender!)

The bees in the garden are Bombus Bombus
And they are as furry and keen as can be.
They don’t say much as they blunder into windows.
Oops. Sorry. Feed me. Or
Give me more single flowered Hollyhocks I can actually get into,
And the odd Lupin – for Lupin flowers only bees have the key.
Leave me some nettles! I’m fond of Monarda, but best of all
Tall, open, nodding,
Japanese
Anemones.

About the Writer


Lesley James

Lesley writes for young people and less young people. Many of her stories and poems for children are set in Lesley’s Garden, where a cast of birds, beasts and minibeasts live. She loves playing with words - rhythms, rhymes, tongue-twisters - and telling real tales. Nothing is more funny, thrilling or entertaining than the real life you can see from your own window.