Thine Altruism, O Ant Poem by Aniruddha Pathak

Thine hard-working mental bent long is known,
Busy ye run endless selfless errands,
Each of thine slender limbs forever fends,
Labour and industry seem in thine bone.

But I reckon thou hast one more rare trait:
A worker though thou art by birth sterile,
Ye groom thine queen with hopes nary to mate,
Sacrifice lets you walk an extra mile.

All of day ye work hard gathering food,
Fighting like a true soldier, risking life,
For good of brotherhood suffering strife,
And not a thought passeth for thine self good!

Ever a vainglorious beast ‘pon this earth,
Man prides himself to have reached highest crest
Zest in zenith, a much vaunted kind breast,
Little he has to show for valued worth.

Be it a sacrifice or unity,
Industry, be it much-talked-about tact,
Man has a lot to learn from thee, O Bee,
Not just thine altruistic noble act.
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Man prides himself for long to be on evolution's highest crest.
But there is life considered lowly in comparison capable of displaying nobler instincts so far considered to be the exclusive preserve of mankind. The bee is known for her industry, no doubt, but she is capable of giving selfless service without getting anything in return, an act of all-truism.
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Reflections | 04.07.08 |