You sit, a hairy and helpless god
taken from your jungle heaven,
behind reinforced glass
in a Copenhagen zoo.
Your small button-black eyes
dull and dejected,
as you look at the hairless monkeys
looking at you, their mouths moving,
but no sound entering
your limited domain.
I can see it in your eyes,
another wet weekend and nothing
on television. Day follows night follows day,
minutes lengthen into hours, meaningless and grey.
Great Silver back, once mighty
in your forest home, you are now reduced
to the status of a side-show freak:
a fallen giant, pathetic in defeat,
whom we, your captors, pay to view--
while caring nothing for the soul in you.
Author notes
Critique welcomed.
Written April 11th, 2006
A contest entry
- Bone Appetite by WolfHeart.
600 points, ended January 29, 2008, 13 entries
Bronze trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - A Voice for the Voiceless by Raven Tears.
800 points, ended April 7, 2008, 23 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 13 of 13
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I used to visit the portion of the zoo where the monkeys and gorillas were kept. There was always a pervading sense of sorrow in their surroundings, and rightfully so. 
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These beautiful creatures deserve a voice, and you spoke well for them.
We care nothing for the souls and feelings for beautiful creatures such as the Gorilla, except they roll in the dough.
You told his story well.
Thankyou for being a voice for the voiceless.
Goodluck. -
Welcome to the Monkey House!
I love how you've shown so much with this poem and while I feel a real sadness for any captured animal, I do like to watch them and try to get into their minds. Especially the chimps & gorillas. Some actually seem to enjoy their new environment while other's seem to sit and mope! I did like your reference to the "hairless onlookers" as well and I'm glad that I came back to read this. joy
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Thank you, WolfHeart, for your kind comments. I'm not particularly an animal lover, but I hate to see animals cooped up in a cage or confined space--it just isn't right.
Cheers,
Bill -
excellent
Oh - I like you!! This is so wonderful and tragic. I belong to every animal organization in the world and I detest zoos - but can live with the few that have natural compounds. We look at the 'exhibits', and do not see the intelligence, loyalty and majesty of animals. Jane Goodall is one of my heroes. I too wish I could live gorrilas. Well, I live with my ferret, Rascal, and we live as equals - no cage for me - no cage for him - and I kiss him goodnight every night. This poem stirs something in me. Nice work!!
hugs WolfHeart -
Thank you, Midnight, for your kind comments. yes, it was really quite upsetting to see such a magnificent creature cooped up in a cage.
Regards,
Bill -
You've really captured the gorilla being cooped up, it must be so stressful for animals. It's a shame that people breed them for captivity, and never allow them to be wild and use all their natural instincts. Really like the style of this write.
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Thanks, Sahdana--glad you enjoyed my poem and thanks for the welcome.
Bill -
Whopppeeee! Great write-great message-touches the heart and most of all...the soul...I enjoy this authenticity and your caring....welcome to Allpoetry!!! peace & blessings
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Thanks--i really appreciate your comments.
Regards,
Bill -
Excellent
Ah humour, you will immediately alienate our American firends, this is really good, well to me, I loe the poit of view expressed in the poem. The way it is written appears quite loose but works really well.
James
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Thank you, Dart--glad you liked this one. It was inspired by a visit in 1986 to Copenhagen Zoo where my friend made the remark about the "wet weekend and nothing on television." The spectacle of the great beast confined in his glass prison made me realise the dubious morality behind caging wild animals.
Cheers,
Bill -
Nice
I enjoyed this poem. The rhyming scheme was great and the image of people as hairless monkeys looking at a great beast was a nice divergence from the typical "stupid people looking at a monkey" theme.
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