To an Insect

Oliver Wendell Holmes (1809–1894)

I LOVE to hear thine earnest voice,

Wherever thou art hid,

Thou testy little dogmatist,

Thou pretty Katydid!

Thou mindest 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 very fair and young,

And yet so wicked too?

Did Katy love a naughty man,

Or kiss more cheeks than one?

I warrant Kitty did no more

Than many a Kate has done.