23
A MATTER OF TASTE

“Thank you, dear,” said the big black ant,

“I'd like to go home with you now, but I can't.

I have to hurry and milk my cows —

The aphid herds on the aster boughs.”

And the ladybug said: “No doubt it's fine,

This milk you get from your curious kine,

But you know quite well it's my belief

Your cows are best when turned to beef.”

[NOTES] This rhyme is about two insects that are talking:an ant and a ladybug. The ladybug has asked the ant to come to her home, but the ant says she cannot. She is busy with her flies called aphids. Ants eat the milk that aphids make so the ant says her aphids are just like cows. Aphids live on aster flowers. The ladybug says that maybe the milk from the cows is good, but she thinks it would be better to eat the cows for their meat.

aphids—very small flies

herds—many animals living together

boughs—arms of a tree

kine—very old word for cows. not used today

my belief—what I think