I Wish I Weren'T An Orangutang

I WISH I WEREN’T AN ORANGUTANG by JOHN M. ARRIBAS I wish I weren’t an orangutang, living as a captive in a zoo Orange stringy, hairy body, is this the best nature can do Gangly arms, puffed cheeks, a face you can’t appreciate A lonely solitary life longing for a willing mate I have an adorable look, when I’m still small n young The children love it, when I grin n overlap my tongue They love it, when I flash my teeth, while sinking my jowl I puff up my cheeks, then let out an ear splitting howl I’m just a barrel of laughs for them, but what about me I’d love to have the freedom to go from tree to tree I long to live and function in forests dense and hot I’d forage the treetops eating mangoes at each spot I’d build myself a new nest bed of branches every night I have to pick the tree limbs, that can carry my weight I’d wake with the sun and begin, an unending search To locate a willing female with whom to share my perch But that’s all just a daydream never to reach fruition Cause I’m just a show piece, to be seen with paid admission Would it not be great, were I a horned pacific puffin Spend time in Russia, then over to Alaska for some fun When it gets too cold I’ll head south to California How great to be able to perch in a majestic sequoia Then onto Baja, where the fish are there for the taking Venturing far and wide will be an annual undertaking Absorbing the vistas along the pacific palisades Swooping and diving without branches as aids Well I’ve just been awakened from my daily dreaming The gates are open and I hear the children screaming Well, back to the old grind, I’ve got kids to amuse But being a horned puffin, a dream I will never lose We all have duties to perform each day But, if I were a horned puffin I’d fly away