Kiri

Your arms held to the branch While I clung to you You swung from tree to tree Till my little palms let go you free I fell into the water Making a splash You disappeared from my eyes With the speed of a flash You had a troop to lead So you could not wait for your kid So frightened was I That I thought my heart would bleed I tried to keep my head above The water that sped fast At a distance I saw a boat That had a small mast There was a little girl there Rowing with gusto Lifting me from the swirl She wrapped me in her skirt The warmth of her body Gave me a new lease of life She named me ‘kiri’ And strengthened me for the strife With every day I grew stronger And regained my playful self But in my heart’s hidden corner I prayed you would come bereft Mama don’t leave me I want to lie on your lap To be groomed by you And around you dance and clap. Kiri is a nine month old monkey who was abandoned by its mother.