Triveni Journal
1927 | 11,233,916 words
Triveni is a journal dedicated to ancient Indian culture, history, philosophy, art, spirituality, music and all sorts of literature. Triveni was founded at Madras in 1927 and since that time various authors have donated their creativity in the form of articles, covering many aspects of public life....
BY IAN HOYLE, S. J.
A beetle is the strangest friend
To love and cherish and defend.
But in my pocket safely dwells
A beetle prettier than sea-shells
And though he鈥檚 not a priceless treasure.
He鈥檚 yet a simple thing of pleasure.
His armour, emerald green and gold,
Will shine and glitter when I hold
Him in the glancing light of noon,
Or roll him in the silver moon.
I trust you will not think it funny
(When others love a rat or Bunny)
That I should make a lot of fuss
About a golden beetle thus.
My fondness nearly cost me pain,
As, on a day, I feared the cane,
For during class my beetle stole
Forth from my pockets hiding-hole.
However, showing no surprise,
My master turned away his eyes.
One day, a kirk-tree鈥檚 leafy spray
Revealed my beetle gone astray.
I knew him, having drawn a crest
Upon his shield and armoured breast;
And as he sparkled on the stem,
From it I plucked the living gem.
If other treasures some admire,
My beetle鈥檚 greater than the fire.
That flickers from an emerald ring,
Because he is a living thing.