Shakespeare's Sonnet Number CXVI/116 defines love, at first negatively. " Love is not love,"asserts Shakespeare, "which alters when it alteration finds". Next comes the 'love'ly line from which is taken the title of our blog.
What with umpteen Muskan's and Sonam's not only from metros but from three-tier Indian cities and mofussil areas, tough it is to argue that the definition of love as the lodestar remains valid still. In fact, the final challenge in the said sonnet, "nor no man ever loved", seems to be the truth of human relationships!
In the avian and in the animal world though, there is hope still! Let us look at a few examples. Due to "Panchtantra", "Aesop's Fables", we associate wolves with duplicity, cunningness and shrewd manipulation. The Dracula stories teach us to consider their howling as an ill omen. Actually, they are exceptionally loyal to each other as a couple. The leading alpha pair as well as all the other members remain monogamous. Why, they share all the responsibilities, including rearing the pups. So do gibbon monkeys and beavers!
As for birds, it is not only the lovely swans whose elegant necks together form the heart symbol who are committed to each other for a lifetime. Bald eagles, and, hold you breath, the carrion cleaners of the jungle, that is, yes, the scavenging vultures, too, are absolutely committed to their one and only mate for a lifetime!
All these species maintain the romance in their togetherness, share every possible responsibility, and remain true to their partners. And yet we choose to call such animals 'beasts'! Some talk of projection of the self on to others, I suppose!
Have we, the so-called higher species, really evolved, one wonders, given such facts! Or in the chase for the apparent 'progress' and prosperity, such smarty pants have lost the real, human(e) selves? Lucky indeed the animals and birds are, it must be maintained, because they neither watch the positively pernicious television serials nor the highly suspicious OTT content!
Whatever be the reason behind the human betrayals, better to follow our avian and animal friends, and be loyal and faithful. No, it is not the fear of countless contagious diseases. Rather, it is the inner contented feel that thus makes heaven of earth!
Pratima@ Even the weak become strong, when together!
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