They And Us

As humans we fancied, as the sole supreme, thinking of ourselves. 

On Earth, are we the only divine and incomparable ones? 

We thought it's our way of domestication, 

is the one and only kind of innovation. 

Oh my dear fellow mortals, 

Yet there are clear parallels, 

from the world of nonhuman humble animals. 

These modest farming-creatures, their wisdom could teach us, maybe pretty more, 

Kudos to 'Aesop' for eye-opening 'fables' galore. 

Fantastic fungi farming of the Ants, 

them, you ought to take time to salute,    

their management of agricultural expertise. 

Dealing with pathogens, they're so supple. 

Oh my dear fellow mortals, 

Yet there are clear parallels,

We haven't enjoyed much, the lap of our mother earth's, 

After all, they, the diminutive arthropods, have been doing,

their farming, for millions of years.

While our practice of agriculture, we started roughly, 

since 12,000 years.

Oh my dear fellow mortals, 

Yet there are clear parallels,

Rearing cattle enjoying the status of the liege, 

ponder over thee, the black-ants, 

They have been enjoying 'honeydew' rearing aphids, so astute. 

Clipping the wings of mountain eagles, the Adams tamed, 

Black-Ants bite the wings off the aphids, 

Aren't they sharp-witted? 

Oh my dear fellow mortals, 

Yet there are clear parallels,

We domesticated dogs, ensuring safety from the predators;

While black-ants attack and fight off ladybirds and other predators that eat away their aphids. 

Oh my dear fellow mortals, 

Yet there are clear parallels,

Lend your eyes to Leafcutter ants, 

They march in vividly coloured columns, 

with leaf-pieces held aloft in their jaws, 

displaying leaf-pieces, the 'winning flags'. 

Yes, dear fellow mortals, 

in the scene, we're pretty new arrivals, 

Oh my dear fellow mortals, 

Yet there are clear parallels,

Look at the Damsel fishes, 

They live within the coral-reef gardens, 

and cultivate their desired algae species. 

Sitting on your cosy couch, seeing TV shows, 

Appreciate the spectacular aerial views 

of terraced-paddy-fields on highlands, 

salute the farmers-of-the-past for their indomitable spirits, 

at the same time, please don’t forget 

to appreciate the agricultural 

skills of fungus-growing termites. 

Look at their three-dimensional designs, on the walls of which the fungus grows, 

indeed they are the world’s foremost 

farmers. 

Oh my dear fellow mortals, 

Yet there are clear parallels, 

Thus, we must not forget  

to celebrate 

the achievements of these 

humble creatures.

Yes, dear fellow mortals, in this scene, we're indeed pretty new arrivals. 

                             *****