Ram R. V. Poet Free verse

Greeting

Most animals, wild or mild,
And birds, too, tend to 
Recognize you 
After a few encounters.
The dog is an excellent example.
It gets chummy
Invariably after a first meeting.
Even an ‘unreclaimed’ cat,
Suspicious by nature, 
May try to be friendly with you,
Unless otherwise you are positively hostile.
 
But some animals, fortunately very few,
Show no signs of recognition whatever.
The donkey is an egregious example.
Will not care to greet anyone,
Not even its master, 
Though it has lived with him for life.
Not so much as a look, 
No sign or gesture—of familiarity.

Some humans behave so,
Like total strangers,
Even though greeting happens to be
A key communicative function—
In a civilized society.

Could you explain the deviance?

***

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Patricia Cresswell August 28, 2017 at 5:35 PM It seems to me that there are people with open hearts and those with closed. A natural attitude from the beginning even in early childhood. I think it is not that they ignore us so much as they do not see us. Perhaps they have a very tight definition of what is allowed into their consciousness. Your poem has helped me put my thought on this subject into words. I know of people like the ones you describe. Avery thought filled write Thank you. Patricia Cresswell August 28, 2017 at 10:07 PM Oh those people ! They are simply nasty and not worth bothering about. Major 'tud' problem. Nose so high in the air they choke on clouds. I say help them because your heart asks you too. But one must draw the line on acceptable behaviour and theirs must have lines all over it. Ram R. V. August 28, 2017 at 6:24 PM Thank you, Patricia, for your comment and your perception, which you've articulated clearly. But, on second thoughts, what I should have added to the poem is this: Such people, when they need our help, do go out of the way to greet us ad hoc, so to speak, and get things done!

Darren White August 22, 2017 at 1:18 AM I cannot explain, and I fully agree with you. Strange, and shameful, behaviour. Ram R. V. August 22, 2017 at 1:22 AM Thank you, Darren, for your compatible comment. Ram

Arturo Michael August 21, 2017 at 10:37 AM Do you blame the donkey for reflexing what he sees? If so, let all mirrors be broken and set the donkey free...Just joking Ram...Very good point...It made me respond... Ram R. V. August 21, 2017 at 3:12 PM Thank you, Arturo, for your humorous nd complimentary response. Ram