triveni spotlight: 23rd October 2025
- Mohua
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
triveni spotlight A FEATURE EVERY ALTERNATE DAY hosts: Anju Kishore and Mohua Maulik GUEST EDITOR: Rupa Anand
23rd October 2025
triveni spotlight October 2025
honey eyes
melting memory
of a sting
— Kavita Ratna
The Wise Owl, April 2024
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Fellow Beings
We share the planet with some amazing species and though we each speak a different language, there is much we can learn from them. By ‘fellow beings’ I mean those on land, sea, and air. We are continually communicating with them, via body language, sounds, and signals. The ones in our household and environment pick up on our words and feelings at all times, and we pick up on theirs, though we may not be fully aware of this intuitive exchange. There may be some of us who are not particularly fond of some of them. That’s fine too.
My selections this month are about meaningful connections with our fellow beings or even our fears and angst. I want the Spotlight focused on the myriad ways we establish a deeper understanding of this mutual interdependence.
Join me on this exploratory journey about listening to and communicating with our pets or the wildlife we encounter. Are we aware of the impact our emotions have on them? Do we understand the essence or persona of each being, recognise and empathise with any physical or traumatic issues they may have, understand their joys & their pain? And finally, how are they a source of comfort and peace in times of our struggles & stress?
with a cheep, a woof, a meow, a wag, a lick, & a roar
rupa
Thank you, Rupa. Dear poets, we are sure you will enjoy this selection and hope that you will share your perspectives too. Looking forward to your participation.
Team Triveni Spotlight
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Beautiful and such rich imagery.
This layered haiku with multiple interpretations is a nice share and a pleasure to read, Kavita! Thank you, hosts for sharing and thanks to Rupa for giving such detailed insights on nature and honeybee stings. I have had some personal experience there and luckily only superficial.
Love how Kavita has firmly planted the image of a honey bee, without mentioning it, yet suggesting another story behind the sting.
Kavita’s poem has brilliantly layered many moods ~ melting honey, melting looks, memories, and sting bites.
Vital for pollination, they gather nectar, transfer pollen between plants, that is essential for the reproduction of many fruits, vegetables, and nuts. This process is important for maintaining both agriculture and biodiversity.
On the flip side - some ‘stinging’ facts from the internet:
Yes, honey bees can sting, and when they do, it can be painful and potentially dangerous for some individuals. They primarily sting in self-defence or to protect their colony. The sting injects venom into the skin of the victim via a barbed stinger that gets lodged therein. Because the stinger is barbed, the honey bee cannot retract it and is forced to…