Poetry – The last one – In the Cage. – A poem for the Chimps and Gorillas.

Posted on by Opher

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The last one – In the cage

As a child I was taken to London zoo. I stood in front of the small cage in which Guy the Gorilla was housed. He looked out at me with sad rheumy eyes. He seemed so human.

There was a great resignation. Guy was bored to tears.

We humans have evolved from a branch of apes that gave rise to the gorillas and chimps. Only one percent of our DNA is different. Our greater intelligence is the result of a small number of changes. It is responsible for our technology and the weapons and tools with which we are busy destroying the planet and killing everything that lives.

We assume that all those chimps and gorillas have no intelligence.

We are wrong.

They have plenty of wisdom. It is merely different to ours.

Our binocular vision coupled with that opposable thumb has enabled our tool making and our technology. It has enabled us to destroy our cousins.

I think they know their days are numbered.


 

The last one – In the cage

 

What wise thoughts lie

Behind those eyes;

Brown eyes so human.

The blitheringed

Say you have no soul

But I see the sadness –

The knowledge of your fate.

 

What strange tools

Could be devised

By that hand –

That hand with thumb

And finger to pick

And grasp?

 

What contented future

Has been savagely

Plucked from

Your grasp

And snatched

From your mind?

 

Opher 7.11.2015

44 thoughts on “Poetry – The last one – In the Cage. – A poem for the Chimps and Gorillas.”

  1. That picture is so horrible, Opher! I used to work with Chimpanzees. They would be stolen from their moms and I would care for them. I was so happy to have a job and get to be with chimps, I didn’t get what was really happening. I loved them. They were so smart and loving. Then I found out my job was to raise them to be friendly and easy to handle so that they could then torture them with science. I didn’t last long there. It was a horrid place. Finally the last one that they didn’t kill was released to some kind of farm for chimp survivors. It still haunts me – what they did to them.

    1. I know the feeling. I worked in an animal house for two years breeding animals for experiments. That included cats. I loved working with the animals but hated what they were used for.

      1. The only way I can justify working there is that at least they got love….but then it was used against them.

      3. Please don’t…if it’s bad. I love bunnies. I can’t take it.

  2. I hate the Zoo and only twice ever took my Boys to London Zoo, two times too many. Look at every animal and see the sadness their eyes, pain and longing to be Free. You are always so elequent in all you say.

      1. You certainly do that. Off in a few minutes with G&T and your book, now what more could a woman ask for – well actually I can think of one or two things!!

    1. I have the same problem. I write so fast because I’ve got a head full of stuff to say! Then I read it and the punctuation, spelling and grammar is all crap. But it is all about communication – isn’t it? If people understand, the message gets across then that’s the main thing!

  4. I can hardly control myself not to read “Ginny”, enjoying your “Sixties Freak” book, you certainly lived. Sorry should have said first “good afternoon Opher”.

    1. And good afternoon to you as well. I’m glad you are enjoying the Sixties Freak book. I’ve had a bit of life and still have a little left in me I hope!

  7. How fantastic. I wish I had Grandchildren can’t see it happening Jonathan does not want any and David too busy with the internet, I would thoroughly spoil them.

      1. It would be so wonderful, my Mother only had two Grandchildren, my Sons and they have bad memories they also remember the names she had for them – “pair of little b……s” I could not figure out was it a Catholic thing as I did not marry in the Church and he was divorced and a Freemason. I really know how to dig holes for myself!

  8. You could say that again, after Daddy died she showed her true colours. I wanted four children, lost one early stages and she always refused to accept I was even pregnant, despite I had to have a D&C. When I said to David about another Baby my Mother said “we have enough bloody noise in the house now, no more” and David said no, broke my heart. My Mother gave what should have been my half of the family home when she died to my sister, David said to let it go, I should not have. David bought this large house and my mother/sister wanted in. David lent my sister (fool he was) money to buy in and our Solicitor warned him not to hand over 50% to my sister but to give me the majority. He would not listen to the Solicitor who became annoyed with David. My mother kicked up a fuss, that is why I am in a mess, after David died I found out my sister never paid the money back, she tried to do me out of this house, via some smart arse solicitor, I will not sign blank sheets of paper as she thought. I pay for the upkeep, David has to pay for some of the bills which is not fair on him. I keep the house going every other way, while she goes out for herself, can you see now Opher why I get depressed and my “walls”

    You, Cheryl and Teal have helped me so much – your books are helping me believe me.

      1. My Mother caused trouble between my Father’s Sister and Brother and when my Father was dying he was calling for his sister in Cork, my mother refused to contact her to tell her that Jack was dying, David, my Husband, told her it was wrong and that Nellie his Sister should be told, David phoned her and she was on the next flight with her youngest Daughter. We met them at Heathrow but my Father had died . That was my mother. I have always kept diaries and it’s all in them what went on in my home.

      2. That is so horrible. My parents were kind and loving. We had our rows, usually about my hair, music and career, but they always supported me, gave me love and freedom. What more could you ask for?

  9. Opher I was always told when I got older “don’t bring any trouble to our door, if you do you will go the road” so you can see I was too terrified to have fun. First row David and I had, he took me back to my Parents and told them the marriage was over, my Father told him “David you made your bed”. I used to put everything in my diary. Does all this explain me to you.

      1. My Auntie Hannie, she is now dead, my mother’s eldest sister used to say to me “we have had our hell on earth, hopefully we will have our reward in Heaven”, she was used by her sisters dumped on they thought she was too soft to see it but she did. I know you do not believe in Heaven Opher, but I do believe there is somewhere better than here. I used to have a “Sister” over at the Surgery and she would talk to me and tell me “you don’t believe you are strong Hannah but you are, to put up with all you have”, I suppose I am but do not see it. I have survived so far, but believe me it has been tough. Thank you for all your words, they really do help you know.

  10. God I hope so too. I was talking about San Francisco last night with David-Patrick (sorry if I confuse you, my youngest Son was Baptised David-Patrick – Patrick was Jonathan’s choice but DP hates Patrick so sometimes it is David), and that I really want to go.

    1. Sort out when. Get on the web sort flights, book them and sort out a hotel. There’s some at a reasonable price. Do it!

  11. I was in touch with a company in the States and they kept sending me emails, I will get back to them. Only prob at the moment is expense, too much going on Auctions, plus I am buying a lot of RmcK personal books from a wonderful store book in Eureka, they sort them for me and save them – took delivery o9f box of them this morning, yet to open. Did I tell you that I plan to bequeath all to a University,maybe boys might one ot two things. I have Rod’s Chest and paintings plus Silver boxes x 4, Awards my own collection Vinyls, photographs, musical scores. Now more auctions Friday 1am and David says “this is the last” (well until next Feb). You probably think I am nuts, Jonathan understands as he loves his music, has expensive collection of Guitars he taught himself.

  14. I remember Guy. It is quite a shocking photo. I read about what happened to one of the apes that was raised with a family to find out about language acquisition. That is another sad tale of an orphaned creature by scientists.

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