Sandra Haight Poet Lyric

Notes About The Poem

Harambe, the Gorilla: A three-year-old boy, with no one watching, was able to enter a Cincinnati Zoo gorilla's enclosure on May 28, 2016.  After a 10-minute encounter, Cincinnati Zoo officials shot and killed the beloved 17-year-old male western lowland silverback gorilla.  At first, the gorilla, named Harambe, seemed to try helping the boy, be more of a gentle giant, in protecting the child. But the screams and commotion of the crowd frightened him, and he started dragging the little boy away from the sound of the crowd.  There has been a lot of anger over the quick decision to kill him.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_of_Harambe

 

Entered, January 1, 2026, in the Premiere Contest, "Lyrical Tribute," Sponsor, Tom Woody

Tribute To Harambe, the Gorilla

(Written in Iambic Pentameter- suitable for music)

Harambe, living in captivity-
mock forest of the Cincinnati Zoo,
within this human world, good as can be,
beneath those peering eyes that visit you.

And what bad fate for you when, suddenly,
no fault of yours, a child falls to your space.
At first, you seemed to act quite caringly; 
you held his hand and looked into his face.

But then the shrieks of humans made you wild
and frantic, as you soon became afraid.
You dragged him to and fro, that little child-
and chaos then ensued, decisions made.

If only they had found a simple way;
removed the crowd to hush upsetting screams,
perhaps your primate nature would then play
into a more protective stance, it seems.

Or maybe darted you to bring you down
and not forever, just a little while,
to rescue the small boy and take the crown
for saving both and ending with a smile.

Harambe, poor gorilla, your sad day,
to have them end your life for their neglect
of building an enclosure in some way,
allowed a tiny child to fall direct.

Within your borrowed space of humankind,
where you knew not of freedom, nature's way,
you had to face your end, your days maligned
as a dark beast to pay the price that day.

Harambe, living in captivity,
mock forest of the Cincinnati Zoo,
not many of you left on Earth to see;
so sorry that this fate has come to you.

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Kim Merryman July 17, 2021 at 1:20 PM Such a tragic thing to happen! Sandra, your poetic rendition of the event is excellent! Congrats on your win! Blessings, Kim M

Francis J Grasso September 29, 2016 at 12:58 PM Beautiful, Sandra! Congratulations on the win! ...Fran

Carrie Richards September 27, 2016 at 3:00 PM This event was such a horrific tragedy, which was no fault of this beautiful animal. Well done, Sandra, and a topical subject to master. Congrats on your win! Sandra Haight September 28, 2016 at 3:12 PM Yes, Carrie...such a tragedy for sure. Thank you for your supportive comments and congrats! Hugs, Sandra

Jesse Day June 9, 2016 at 4:35 PM Congrats on your win for the "Any Poem You Ever Penned" poetry contest. I enjoyed your work - Jesse Sandra Haight June 9, 2016 at 5:10 PM Thank you very much, Jesse. I am so pleased that you liked my poem, and appreciate your support. Hugs, Sandra

Pashang Salehi June 8, 2016 at 7:47 PM whose fault is it? so sorry that this fate has come to you. Great tribute Sandra Pashang Salehi June 11, 2016 at 10:45 AM Couldn't they used tranquilizer gun or dart?.... may be it was too late.... Sandra Haight June 9, 2016 at 5:12 PM Well, Pashang...I would say the mother and the zoo. The mom for not watching her 3-year old child intently, and the zoo for not making sure a small child could get under that fence. Unfortunate...I appreciate your visit and nice comment. Sandra

Sara Chansarkar June 8, 2016 at 3:30 PM Lovely tribute to the innocent animal!I don't think he meant harm.Congratulations! Sandra Haight June 9, 2016 at 5:15 PM Thank you very much, Sara. No, lowlands gorillas are not as dangerous as others. Wish they had found other means to deal with this. Thank you for stopping by with your congrats! Hugs, Sandra

Janis Medders Tobechi June 8, 2016 at 12:05 PM Beautiful tribute to an almost movie like end for this animal.....congratulations on your win... Sandra Haight June 8, 2016 at 2:12 PM Thank you, Janis. I wish there was a better ending. I appreciate your visit and congrats. Hugs, Sandra

Carol Eastman June 2, 2016 at 1:01 PM A great Tribute to a very sorry situation. Sandra Haight June 4, 2016 at 10:54 AM Thank you very much, Carol. Hugs, Sandra

Sneha Rv June 2, 2016 at 9:41 AM How horrible!! Animals are treated so badly these days.. What a sad story : :::( This is SUCH an amazing poem, dear Sandra!! :-) Sandra Haight June 4, 2016 at 10:54 AM Thank you, Sneha. I had to express my emotions. I appreciate your wonderful, supportive comments! Hugs, Sandra

Tom Arnone June 1, 2016 at 7:21 PM Beautiful, Sandra. I couldn't have worded it better (though I thought it). Wish there had been a better way -- but, of course, it could have been far worse.... Sandra Haight June 1, 2016 at 9:45 PM Thank you, Tom. So nice of you to stop by to read my poem and leave such a supportive comment. Yes, it could have been worse for sure. Hope this sad happening helps to make all animal enclosures safer for them and the visitors...though they'd be better off in the wild. Sandra

Sara Kendrick June 1, 2016 at 12:51 PM I agree that it was sad and terrifying experience for all involved..Hind sight is always 20/20. Thanks for dropping by..Sara Sandra Haight June 1, 2016 at 1:31 PM Thank you, Sara, for reading my poem and for your positive comment. Perhaps some new ways of dealing with something like this will come of it. Hugs, Sandra

Miraj Raha June 1, 2016 at 11:13 AM We Humans are the most dangerous and cruel animal of the world.Sandra Ma'am this is the most poignant tribute to the majestic HArambe that could ever have been written. Sandra Haight June 1, 2016 at 1:30 PM Thank you, Miraj, for reading my poem and for your very uplifting comment about it. I had to express my emotions about this sad event which so many others about upset about too. I appreciate your visit and feedback very much. Sandra

Ravi Sathasivam June 1, 2016 at 6:59 AM Great tribute. Very sad thing happen to him. They would have saved him. Thanks for sharing it. Sandra Haight June 1, 2016 at 1:26 PM Thank you, Ravi, for stopping by to read my poem and lend your supportive comments. I appreciate it very much. Sandra

Jan Allison June 1, 2016 at 4:35 AM A very thoughtful write Sandra - such a shame they couldn't find a way of sedating the poor gorilla or finding another way to resolve the situation rather than kill him:-( hugs Jan xx Sandra Haight June 1, 2016 at 1:23 PM Thank you, Jan, for reading my poem and for your supportive comments. Perhaps these zoos will learn from this and figure out better ways to prevent a tragedy or deal with it if it does happen. Hugs, Sandra

Messoh Vincent May 31, 2016 at 10:49 PM What a sad way to mourn this lovely seventeen year old beast...... This was so well written my dear Sandra Haight June 1, 2016 at 1:18 PM Thank you very much, Messoh, for reading my poem and for your supportive comments. I appreciate your visit so much. Sandra

Bonnie Jennings May 31, 2016 at 9:36 PM I proud of you for writing this about Harambe. I was infuriated with parents for allows their child to be on that ledge. What a sad day for we animal lovers. Great job, you wrote this well. Send it to a publisher. Sandra Haight June 1, 2016 at 1:18 PM Thank you very much, Bonnie, for your visit and supportive comments. Yes, it was so sad...yes, about the parents...don't know how this could have happened if they were really watching. I appreciate your feedback. Sandra

Cheryl Hoffman May 31, 2016 at 8:57 PM I agree, very heartfelt poem Sandra and so sad! Heard that if they had darted him it would have made him act crazy and would have possibly harmed the child. I cannot believe the Mom of the child did not see her child about to fall in there! Crazy, and like you said in your poem a terrible fate for the innocent bystander who happened to be Harambe! Sandra Haight June 1, 2016 at 1:15 PM Thank you for taking the time to read or listen to my poem, Cheryl. The tranquilizer shot may not have been safe. I feel that the Mom should have been more cautious too. I appreciate your supportive comments. Sandra