Hidden in the bamboo thicket
Shimmering in the light
A distant cousin grunts at me
Long since I left upright
Forbidden touch and focused stares
The gap of two shall reign
Advanced IQ is what it’s called
Only one may lay claim
So what message have you for me
Gargantuan in size
The picture of ferocity
No doubt well conjured lies
“You crowned the lion jungle king
Sustained by need to kill
My power comes from nature’s growth
Protect the young my skill”
“I let the lion think he’s king
A warped viewpoint indeed
EQ that’s shared between us two
Knights me to take the lead”
A FALSE KINGSHIP - A Conversation - SYNOPSIS
A trek to Rwanda to visit the mountain gorillas was the last trip my husband and I planned before he passed away. My mission was to complete the circle for us. The trek did not disappoint.
To observe these magnificent creatures with whom we share 98% of our DNA was absolutely magical. To me, the 2% separation is counterbalanced by the emotions we share with them.
My poem is a hypothetical conversation with one of these gorillas who points out the falsehoods of the king of the jungle crown bestowed upon the lion. The gorilla ends the conversation by reminding me that the “vestigial humanness” of emotions (EQ) is what sets him apart.
A very moving proclamation Connie, if only the world would follow the lead