The African Plain (edit)

[TranquillityBase]

It's not the leopards,
black panthers, lunar parrots,
spider monkeys, polar bears,
not the repulsive wisdom of the reptiles
nor even sad reciprocal stare of the old orangutan
that cause me to linger.
It's the dusty and barren backlot corrals
that hold my early morning attention,
where ostriches and gazelle, peacocks and llamas
circle beneath cottonwoods
inside aisles of chainlink fence, 
among dung, fetid water troughs and pale green hay
scattered in the closeted dust.
I want to settle here, to squat immobile
next to my captives from many continents
meditating on the futility of this Ark,
an unbelieving Noah
and the zoo's least popular exhibit.

It's not the leopards,
black panthers, lunar parrots,
spider monkeys, polar bears,
or even the repulsive wisdom of the reptiles
that cause me to linger.
It's the dusty and barren backlot corrals
where ostriches and gazelle, peacocks and llamas
wander beneath cottonwoods
along aisles of chainlink fence,
dung and fetid water troughs,
pale green hay scattered by their aimless shuffle
that hold my early morning attention.
I want to settle down here,
to squat listlessly
beside my herds from many continents
like some bored Noah
meditating on the futility of the Ark;
the zoo's newest exhibit:
Homo Indifferens.