The Bees and the Wasps
A musical retelling of Aesop's fable about a honeycomb, two arguing swarms, and a Hornet Judge with a clever test
Buzz buzz buzz went the bees one day, Buzz buzz buzz went the wasps to say, "That honeycomb's ours! We built it! It's true!" "No it isn't!" said the bees. "We made it, not you!"
Buzz to the left and buzz to the right, Everybody arguing morning to night! Who built the comb? Who made the honey? This was getting not one bit funny!
So they flew to the court of the old Hornet Judge, Who was wise and who never would hold any grudge. She sat on her bench with her spectacles on And she listened to both sides from dusk until dawn.
"It was us!" cried the wasps. "It was us!" cried the bees. "We demand that you give us our honeycomb, please!" "No, give it to US, we're the ones who can prove it!" "Well then PROVE it," the wasps said, "or else you will lose it!"
The Hornet Judge nodded. She tapped on her stand. She said, "I have a test That I think will be grand."
"Both of you, go and build me a comb, Fill it with honey and bring it back home. Whoever can do it, well, there is your proof. Actions speak louder than words, and that's truth."
The bees said, "Of course!" and they flew off to start, They gathered their nectar and worked with all heart. They danced and they hummed and they built, cell by cell, Golden and perfect, they did it so well!
The wasps? They buzzed. They fussed. They complained. They said, "This is silly!" They said, "This is strange!" They couldn't make honey, They couldn't build comb, They had nothing to show So they just flew back home.
The Hornet Judge smiled and she tapped on her stand: "The bees brought a comb. The wasps brought a hand." She set the gold comb on the bees' little side, And the wasps flew home with nowhere to hide.
Buzz buzz buzz went the bees that day, Sweet golden honey in their honeycomb bay. Buzz buzz buzz went the wasps in the wind, With nothing to show, and nothing to spend.