Two Poems

THE SHOE-BILLED STORK.

      Miles of pathways, acres of grass,
      Tons of artificial boulders,
      Small saharas closed against
      Camel, bison, antelope,
Which pass and shrug their shoulders, fenced from hope.

      But like Nature animals exist
      Too large to keep in single view,
      Some too small for us to see
      At all, ambivalent, distinct,
As well as the list, two out of three, extinct.

      Wandering through the endless zoo -
      Cats in their dens intently pace,
      Elephants bellowing and thumping,
      Monkeys constantly at war -
We guessed his impassive face hid something more.
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