catiedid

To an Insect

I LOVE to hear thine earnest voice,
Wherever thou art hid,
Thou testy like dogmatist,
Thou pretty Katydid!
Thou mindst me of gentlefolks, --
Old gentlefolks are they, --
Thou say'st an undisputed thing
In such a solemn way.

Thou art a female, Katydid!
I know it by the trill
That quivers through thy piercing notes,
So petulant and shrill;
I think there is a knot of you
Beneath the hollow tree, --
A knot of spinster Katydids, --
Do Katydids drink tea?

O, tell me where did Katy live,
And what did Katy do?
And was she fair and young,
And yet so wicked too?
Did Katy love a naughty man,
Or kiss more cheeks than one?
I warrant Katy did no more
Than many a Kate has done.


Oliver Wendell Holmes