My grandmother, 94, who just died used to recite a poem about a wasp. The poem was about spite. Try as I might, I cannot remember what she used to quote.

Is anyone familiar with a poem about a spiteful wasp?

This one perhaps:

To Miss P--

WHOSE LIP WAS STUNG BY A WASP
---William Hutton

Dear Sally, why do you complain
That from the sting you feel a pain,
Forgetting, while you love pursue,
How many pains are caus'd by you
A remedy you want that cures--
Then let my lips be join'd to yours.
Balsamic virtues may be found,
Sufficient for a deeper wound;
But if this should not lay your smart,
'Twill heat the wound that's in my heart.

July 16, 1793.

There was an old man of St. Bees
Who was horribly stung by a wasp.
When they said 'Does it hurt?'
He replied 'No it doesn't -
It's a good job it wasn't a hornet!'
-- W.S. Gilbert

Although the William Hutton poem is beautiful and the W.S. Gilbert is humorous, neither of them is the one my grandmother quoted. Thank you for trying, however.

Laurel

Do you recall any lines from the poem? That would help immensely.

Les

Les,

No, I don't recall any lines. What I do remember is that the poem was about spite. It had something to do with the sting of a spiteful wasp. The moral of the poem was that it doesn't pay to be spiteful against others because it only eats you alive. Vague, I know. But my H doesn't remember any lines either. My grandmother often quoted it to me when discussing my mother's relationship with me.

Wish I could be more helpful.

Laurel

Forgiveness

Stung by a spiteful wasp
I let him go life free.
That proved the difference in him and me.
For, had I killed my foe,
it had proved me at once
the stronger wasp
and no more difference.

W.H. Davies