Une Nocturne Bananoise

A gorilla, feeling tired and bored,

Nestled in and laxly snored

To dreams about a younger, wilder jungle.

He dreamt of days before his birth

When apes recalled a hero's worth

Chimps were chimps and each monkey had an uncle.

He dreamt a wild and simple time

When, as intended, 'twere no crime

To jump and claw and chase and bite and pillage.

The babies acted reverently

Toward mighty males, such as he,

And each new tree could be tomorrow's village.

Oh, glory! How the she-beasts knew

To move and stretch and preen and do

What must be done to keep a king like him for keeping.

But the gorilla was brusquely awakened,

The dream of glory cruelly taken,

When a boy outside yelled "look, mama! He's sleeping!"

The jungle of gorillish dreams,

Comes from stories, so it seems,

Told of adventures, warfare, famine and disasters

By exhibits to their own sweet brood

Of days gone by beyond the zoo

Where humans teach their children they are masters.

-Alejandro Zaius

BOY, n. A transitional stage between primate and slave.