Shiv Murti is a classmate of Ashok Gupta from India (1967-1970, IIT Kharagpur).  Shiv writes short stories and illustrates them with his drawings.  This is his third posting on this website.  Hope you like it.

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The Story

On a warm summer day, all worker bees get busy collecting nectar, to be converted into honey, from various flowers in the backyard – roses, jasmines, and hibiscuses to name a few.

The bees work hard all day and go back to their hives only in the night to rest, sleep and recharge for the next day’s work.

While the humans reap huge profits by selling their honey, the bees neither expect nor ask humans to thank them for their hard work.

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A Poem by Ashok Gupta based on the short story.

Life is inherently unfair.
The story of David and Goliath.
Except David doesn’t have a prayer!

Tiny beings toil all day long.
Only a small break for sleep and rest.
Giants raid and steal fruits of their labor.
Tiny beings don’t make a fuss.
Not even a buzz!
They go about their affairs every day.

Giants can learn a lot from tiny beings.
But why should they?
They are the dominant species.
Arrogant, selfish; not realizing
Nothing lasts forever!

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