DIDACTIC: "UNSUNG HEROES IN SIX LEGS" BY SOMDATTA MITRA

Tiny little ants that rush to finish their line ,

If disturbed they walk on till they tire. 

Busy gathering food they never look behind,

They never waste time like a dancer counting beats.

With every step they carry their courage and persevere,

With every turn they return to their past position and signify .

That life moves on even if a foot crushes the line.

They are disciplined and never waits to bow before dawn,

Their goals are all lamp oil for the anthill.

These creatures are blessed to carry heaven in crumbs,

In a continuous movement they work in unity.

They are unsung heroes of our ecosystem ,

Who are careful enough to sweep the forest without a broom.

They are those cheerleaders of soil ,

Whose strength teaches the world that hardwork has no ending.

With their consumption of harmful pests ,

They write peace into the soil. 

The earthworms are their friends ,

And the soil breathes because they speak to it.

If you put them into small jars ,

Then the line ends where their courage began.

They clean up dead insects and rotten organic matter ,

Returning the vitality to the soil as silence that learned to sing. 

© Somdatta Mitra

- India

27.05.2026

The poem “Unsung Heroes in Six Legs” by Somdatta Mitra praises ants as symbols of hard work, discipline, unity, and perseverance. The poet describes how ants continuously move forward, gather food, and work together without giving up, even when obstacles interrupt their path. Through their determination and organized lifestyle, the ants become a lesson to humanity about courage, patience, and dedication.

The poem also highlights the important role ants play in maintaining the ecosystem. They clean dead insects and organic waste, protect the soil from harmful pests, and contribute to the balance of nature alongside earthworms. By calling them “unsung heroes,” the poet emphasizes that these tiny creatures quietly perform valuable tasks that help sustain life on earth.