Sniffy McNifty

[1998 - inspired by our dog, Barney.

Should be a children's book but never got around to it]

Sniffy McNifty, or Sniffy for short, 

was a dog I dare say, yes a hound of some sort. 

He lived on a farm, where he'd sleep all the day, 

barring noon until two, when he'd frolic and play. 

He would play in the brook, in the barn, in the hay,

he would play with his shadow, in the heat of the day. 

Well one day old Sniffy, in a curious bout, 

sniffed and spied a young bee, with his powerful snout. 

Atop a small flower, yellow, purple and green, 

Sniffy saw yet the busiest bee he'd ever seen. 

Without any thinking, and while showing no fear, 

poor old Sniffy couldn’t see, that a bee sting was near. 

While wildly wagging, his old tail at the bee, 

he panted and puttered, then he POUNCED with much glee! 

“Ouch!” cried the old hound as he cowered and curled. 

“You're a mean bee” he shouted, “meanest bee in the world!”  

“Oh, I meant you no harm”, said the bee with the ring, 

“but I know nothing more than to work and to sting. 

As it is I am late with this nectar, you see, 

and my friends in the hive, they’re depending on me.”

“Well, Ouch nonetheless”, said the silly old hound, 

as he licked his lame paw, where the stinger was found. 

“You may not have meant it, or at least so you say, 

but I trust you are sorry, sorry on this fine day.”

“I am sorry, old hound”, said the bee, yes indeed, 

“but I'm off to my hive now, for there I'm in need.

And as for you my old dog friend, I can only say this: 

If a bee is disturbed, rarely will his sting miss! 

And with that poor old Sniffy, slowly slunk to his farm, 

where his soft bed lay waiting, in the hay, near the barn. 

And there he would sleep, until the very next day, 

when he'd wake up at noon, to again frolic and play.