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/