# A Worm’s Verse

- Link: https://writersworkshopindia.com/2016/08/09/a-worms-verse/
- Published: 2016-08-09T21:42:42+00:00
- Author: shuktara

5/5 - (1 vote)

**Author:** Arunodaya Chaudhuri[⌊WP_20160808_12_37_10_Pro⌉](https://writersworkshopindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/WP_20160808_12_37_10_Pro.jpg)
**
Pages:** 112 **Year of Publication:** 2016 **Price:** Rs 200 **ISBN: **978-93-5045-
128-1 (9789350451281)

_**About the Author**_
 Arunodaya Chaudhuri was born in Barrackpore, West Bengal,
in 1949. He spent the best part of his childhood in Hazaribagh, Bihar, studying 
in St. Xavier’s School there. He graduated from St. Xavier’s College, Calcutta, 
and completed his MA from the University of Calcutta. He is an advertising professional
and has written extensively on advertising and related subjects. His books include
_Indian Advertising: Laughter and Tears_ (Niyogi Books), _Indian Advertising 1780
to 1950_ (Tata McGraw Hill), _ITC versus BAT _(Wheeler) and _Revaluation_ (Vostok).
He has also published _Eleven New Plays_ (Footloose, 2015). He lives in Kolkata 
with his family.

_**Teaser**_

An extract from this novella in verse is given below.

1
 Little wiggly worm With a pink spot On its green back

2
 Feels in good form; As its track Leads to the lot

3
 Of cauliflowers In jute sacks, By the untidy cot,

4
 Of an old merchant Suffering from lack Of sleep and pain.

5
 He came, a mendicant, From Marwar to Burrabazar, To barter and gain

6
 Wealth and happiness… A wife from afar, Her train bringing dowry

7
 To a strange city, So alien to sandy Marwar; He remembers early struggles,

8
 Drinking sweetened tea in A tin cup; sure No one suffered more!

9
 In the meanwhile, Worm encounters an ant; Its antennae touching legs,

10
 She curls up in guile: Pink spot a feint; A challenge in vain

11
 As the ant bites: Worm pays scant Regard to leg bitten;

12
 Uncoiling, Worm pulls Away, towards the sack, Drawn by the scent

13
 Of fresh cabbage leaves. The ant, feeling alone, Waits for other ants

14
 From the far end, Holding in their mandibles A torn dragonfly wing:

15
 Easy to carry broken, Like a dismantled aeroplane, By eager soldiers high

16
 On adrenaline; each ant Moving quickly in formation, Antennae touching, giving
direction…