A poem by Enid Farrow for Upton in Bloom

The worker bees on busy wings
Fly forth on sunny days
From flower to flower they gently pass
Amongst the sun's bright rays

A nectar laden flight, and then
Their hive comes into view
'Pass friends' say sentries on strict guard
'All welcome, hail to you'

Their labours sweet they gladly give
For hire, for queen and brood
For all the world of men as well
They guarantee our food

A selfless band, an army small
Appears in Upton's streets
With spades and compost do they march
On heavy-booted feet

The weeds they smite, the ground they dig
With energy sublime
They plant, they sow, they dig, they hoe
And never heed the time

A magic alchemy takes place
The colours brightly glow
The beds are filled with flowers sweet
As thick as winter's snow

A happy chance, a cup maybe?
But truly here's the thing
We help the bees, the bees help us
The town with joy doth sing