The Monkey and The Elephant

(This poem was inspired by recent events: monkeys grabbing babies and an elephant killing a woman.)

Hanuman said

You take my brothers and

Cousins to cage them

To harm them in the

Name of humanity without humility

To test soaps, lotions, lipstick, shampoo

That no human should use

I’m snatching your babies, your children

Like we were

Snatched, stolen/

Ganesh said

You told them where we were

Where my child was

My child was snatched and killed

With all the might of God

I’m bringing destruction to you

And your entire family

Like you did to us

It is self-defense/

Fox, rabbit, mosquito, hummingbird

Fruit bat said

We the animals enjoyed the two-year break from humanity

We did not miss your pollution, your hubris

And we welcomed your COVID

We needed a break from you

And we now realize

That you need us more than we need you/

Pine, oak, rose bush

Clover, poison ivy

Lavender, dandelion, sage, mint

Breeze said

We had time to flourish

And fall

And die back

And blossom

We made the air clearer, cleaner, fresher

We did not miss humanity’s smog and smoke

Together we could stave off the climate catastrophe

Your ego won’t allow it

We’ve always known

That you need us more than we need you/