Gopa Bhattacharjee (Children's World)

Gopa Bhattacharjee

Sting of a bee

Summer afternoon.
Sultry weather.
Wild wildflower bushes.
Children playing hither thither
few sitting to relax.

A bee suddenly stung
my left arm
a pang of stiffness 
red swollen
a gush of pain
a sudden attack.

My children surrounded me
faces full of concern.
suggesting what to do
what not to do
applying water mixed with lime
to eradicate the poison
assisting solace and comfort.

But I felt miserable
seeing the bee lifeless
fallen like a valiant mother
in front of my feet.
I said, “Look its dead
when I should be the one instead".
Desperately trying to find its other companions
I knew it was protecting its offspring.

A flash of Ezekiel's 'Night of the scorpion'
A sudden realization 
A feeling of great relief
As I mumbled
" Thank God it choose me and spared my children". 

 

Bio Note: Gopa Bhattacharjee

Bilingual poet Gopa Bhattacharjee is born and brought up in Kolkata. Though being an entrepreneur, she is passionate and enthusiastic about weaving poetry relating to the realities of lives and diversities of nature.

Her two poetry books Unturned Verses and Thirty Birds were published in Kolkata 2020 and 2022. Her verses have published in various national and international magazines and journals. She is the leading actor of the short poetry film ‘Kolkata Cocktail’. She has been the featured poet at the American Consulate, Tata Kolkata Lit Meet, Russian Consulate, Latin American Consulate, Nagar Kirrtibas and many other cultural meets in and out of Kolkata.

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Setu, December 2022 :: Children's World 2023