THE PIRATE ANT
Oh, see her bear her heavy burden,
Undaunted ’gainst the stirring breeze;
The cordlet quakes and tremulous shakes
As the antlet quivers with the trees.
Yet still she keeps on plodding onward,
So light in heart and free of limb;
Muscling in her arms a captured fly,
She sails,—a pirate maritime.
O toil most great,—O distance infinite!
From tree to tree the cord is strung,
But naught dissuades the plucky ant
Who rides the rope the trees among.
Heave ho! the wind is rising higher,
And thief and prey are almost gone;
But stark she clingeth to the mast
And bears her priceless booty home.
Thus let men lesson from the tiny ant
Who doth unwearied to her task bend;
No toil too great, no task too long,
But she doth nobly bring’t to end!