A moment too late, my beautiful bird,--
A moment too late are you now,
The wind has your soft, downy nest disturbed,--
The nest that you hung on the bough.
A moment too late,--that string in your bill
Would have fastened it firmly and strong;
But see, there it goes rolling over the hill!
Oh! you tarried a moment too long.
A moment too late,--too late, busy bee,
The honey has dropped from the flower;
No use to creep under the petals to see,--
It stood ready to drop for an hour.
A moment too late,--had you sped on your wing,
The honey would not have been gone;
But see what a very,--a very sad thing,
'Tis to tarry a moment too long.