Monkey in the Fire

There was once a little blue plastic box

It was first seen floating down a stream

Just gently bobbing up and down

Like one does in a sea of dreams.

-

It floated here and jostled there

As it hit a few pebbles and stones

Until it got hit and stuck on a fallen log

From inside came sad and painful moans.
-

Out the box came a furry hand

And clawed its way to the brim

Seen was a tiny little monkey

Hairy, tiny, scared, slim.

-

It looked underfed, and it seemed lost

It attempted to look about

It saw the source of the sudden stop

Onto the log it crawled out.

-

It looked around and strolled about

The new location it arrived at

It slowly crawled to the riverbank

And there it just simply sat.

-

The monkey suddenly saw a monster

A gigantic and heavy red beast

The monkey screeched in fear

The monster didn’t bother in the least.

-

It went ahead and sped away

As the car on the road didn’t bother to see

The survivor of a terrible forest fire

That killed its parents tragically.

-

The poor monkey sat there hungry

It tried to look for something to eat

It saw a flashy blue plastic cover

It rushed towards it on all four feet.

-

It picked up the piece of plastic

And thrust its head into the open cover.

It loved the smell and clung to the packet

Like one would cling to their lover.

-

It began going back to its plastic box home

Its view was blocked by the packet

The crinkling of the bright blue cover

Masked another car’s loud racket.

-

The monkey failed to hear or see

The huge fast-approaching car

The car driver too failed to see the monkey

He thought the cover was being blown afar.

-

The poor monkey had suffered enough

The valiant survivor of a forest fire

The victim of human colonization

The sufferer of unnecessary desire.

-

The monkey was brutally run over

By the car driver, who was unaware

Of the fact that an innocent little monkey

Was walking on the road right there.

-

As the car felt a sudden jiggle

It pressed the brakes and screeched to a halt

The driver looked at the bloody mass

And immediately felt guilty for his fault.

-

He buried the baby monkey near the banks

And went on to the place he was to go.

He constantly thought of his big mistake

Wishing he had not done so.

-

He wanted to repent for his mistake.

So, he decided to let people know

The effects of burning up the forests

Before it turns into a mere shadow.

-

He spoke before a public camera,

Intending to reach out to everyone.

Being an environmentalist himself,

He felt it had to be done.

-

“Listen to my voice, people, hear me out,

The world must be changed.

The money-hungry people don’t think enough,

But they’re cunning and deranged.

-

“They use the earth, they never repay,

They must be ignored at all cost.

It’s inevitable that they’re here to stay.

But, indeed, all is never lost.

-

“Ignore the companies and raise your voice

Against the evil cattle-ranchers.

Stop the support of Brazilian beef

Since they clear forests in want of pastures.

-

“The government must also be blamed

Since they legalized this foul deed.

Shout at them until they understand

To give only how much the farmers need.

-

“Stick to Mother Nature, listen to her,

Her lungs are constantly burning.

Never ignore her steady pleas,

There’s always something worth learning.

-

“The fire drove out a baby monkey

And I unintentionally ran over it.

So please, let me repent for my mistake

I’m simply trying to do my bit.

-

“Please let my efforts not be in vain

Help the forests, let them grow back.

We’ve already lost so much in less time

Let’s bring her back on track.

-

“I hope this message reaches out to people

And they start to save the Amazonian trees

Please do not ignore me, but the companies

I request you, hear out my pleas.”