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MONKEY BUSINESS
Lorraine Ellis Harr
Geri Barton

Started 1/1/92 Year of the Monkey

First dream of the year:
big gorilla chases me
down unknown byways

talk at lunch - evolution
celibacy, SEX, MEN, GOD
!

a good swat - that's what
the young monkey gets for its
getting out of line

twelve balloons for my birthday
twelve balloons for Valentines

under a full moon
noises from the monkey house
long after midnight

out when the weather's coldest
the animal lover's cat

the lady from town
powders her face - reds her lips
monkey-grimaces

stepping carefully around
all these ugly sidewalk slugs

showing off his skill
he swings from the monkey bars
eyeing the females

how tenderly the caged ape
hands the apple to its mate

under a deluge --
the primate family remains
inside the shelter

bored to tears with my neighbor
but I needed the sugar

chatter of monkeys
rises with the rising sun
mealtime at the zoo

waiting 'till the moon comes out
to plant morning-glory seeds

old patriarch ape --
one more time he chases off
male opportunists

parking lot seagull struggles
with a ziploc-bagged bagel

when the sun comes out
all the monkeys come out too -

and cherry trees bloom


black ants invade the kitchen
termites hatch in the bathroom

tangerine peelings
scattered in the primate cage
slowly withering

snake-lover who fears spiders
has one crawling up his sleeve

apes and gorillas
the world is full of all kinds
the same with people

Geri, the summer gypsy
once more to the shopping mall

nose pressed to the bars
the little monkey mimics
kids making faces

it's NOT the fishtank filter
it's a cricket in the room!

monkey mom looks for
that one aggravating flea --
her eyes darkening

the little owl in this link
we thought stuffed, until that wink!

a nip on the rump -
not sexual harassment
just a playful ape

we danced with the bride's brother
the 'Lindy" to Mack-the-Knife

twice scolded monkey
moons the head of the family
in the cage next door

he dreams a cat-guillotine
for the neighborhood prowlers

monkey face peering
from a tangled liana
ah - mother-in-law

the rear view mirror fell off
just before the trip back home

one baby monkey
sleeping in its mother's arms
mouth dribbling milk

we both buy dollar bracelets
rainbow-shimmers in the sun

young female monkey
picks petal off the blossom --
enraptured with love

since that fat cat sat on it
the "live-forever" didn't.

 

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