05-23-2021, 10:41 AM
Hey Tim-
This is an interesting read.
I guess since us humans live in a zoo of our own making, we feel justified in putting wild creatures in a zoo, too. I can never look a caged animal in the eyes.
It's not the leopards,
black panthers, lunar parrots,
spider monkeys, polar bears, maybe tighten up the list a bit
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. really cool section, this
I want to settle down here,
to squat listlessly
beside my herds from many continents
like some bored Noah
meditating on the futility of this Ark;
as the zoo's newest exhibit.
Homo Indifferens As Knot suggested, this last line would make a good title
The immediacy of the piece makes it sound like a recent trip to the zoo, and the phrase "bored Noah meditating on the futility" speaks from the perspective of an older person (like me). I can relate to that feeling of sometimes feeling caged, without a reasonable means of escape.
This is an interesting read.
I guess since us humans live in a zoo of our own making, we feel justified in putting wild creatures in a zoo, too. I can never look a caged animal in the eyes.
It's not the leopards,
black panthers, lunar parrots,
spider monkeys, polar bears, maybe tighten up the list a bit
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. really cool section, this
I want to settle down here,
to squat listlessly
beside my herds from many continents
like some bored Noah
meditating on the futility of this Ark;
as the zoo's newest exhibit.
Homo Indifferens As Knot suggested, this last line would make a good title
The immediacy of the piece makes it sound like a recent trip to the zoo, and the phrase "bored Noah meditating on the futility" speaks from the perspective of an older person (like me). I can relate to that feeling of sometimes feeling caged, without a reasonable means of escape.