Animal Nature

We often think of animals as dumb creatures, but if only we keep our eyes open & our preconceptions shut off, we can see they can be truly remarkable. The following are two true stories, one of which I was told by someone I trust & the other I actually witnessed. I have more but to me these two express a side of the animal kingdom that most people simply don't know about

I hope you enjoy them...

The Woman & her Lyre

Up Errinundra Plateau way, deep in Australian bush
A city girl a Sea Change took, to rest and sit on tush
At end of day, in smoky dusk, sitting on her porch
She found a friend, good company, in coolth that follows scorch

Grey Lyre Bird would come to view, new neighbour in domain
With food scraps then she tempted him, his presence to retain
Friendship grew between the two, he courted her by voice
He’d spread his tail in fine display, his song a master’s choice

Months passed by as they consorted, human fem and bird
He treated her to finest sounds, by human ever heard
And as things do there came to pass, the woman felt quite sick
She had to stay tight in her bed, to give disease the flick

From first day that she spent in bed, she heard a sound quite strange
A scratching sound beside the house, like chickens on free range
It kept her puzzled four days long, to weak to go and see
Visitors saw nothing there, what then could it be?

The fifth morn she awoke at last, and outside room did spy
Her lyre bird was standing there, waiting window high
He clucked at her to bid g’day, then spread his lyre tail
Pure serenade and court display, skills of lyre male

When she had failed to appear, his strange unbirdly mate
He’d worked out (maybe) what was wrong, decided not to wait
He’d built his mound by bedroom side, (it’s usually just for eggs)
Every day he’d built it higher, till it reached window’s ledge

For three long months he‘d stand parade, just off her window sill
He’d flash her, try out every sound, amused her well until
Recovery came and she could greet him from her favourite seat
He never stood the mound again, his use for it complete

Monkey Shines

In days gone by the Melbourne Zoo, was not so free in style
The animals were kept in cages, pacing all the while
Even then, a naïve boy, it made me feel so sad
To see great lion cooped up tight, today it’s not so bad

One incident stands clear in mind, I’ll tell you if I can
Of simian duplicity, a triumph over Man
Two chimps in cage, a mated pair, pubescent group of kids
The children yelled and mucked around, banged on dustbin lids

The male chimp sat, at cage’s rear, in quiet sombre mood
His mate was on the floor in front, picking over food
The boys were hawking gobs of spit, then spraying them at her
They spattered her and then they laughed, at dribbles down her fur

The male sat watching all of this, cud chewing as he sat
Caught by this I stopped and watched, reprimand gone flat
They spat, she sat, he steadily chewed, I watched it all unfold
And learned no matter what the race, the young learn from the old

With kids at chainlink gathered close, the male reached for roof
And as he swung hand over hand, of smarts he gave us proof
To closest point to fence he swung, and as he reached top arc
He sprayed entire mouth of phlegm, and didn’t miss his mark

He’d stoic watched his lady love, spat on by the boys
And patient gathered all his spit, while they made all the noise
When gallons gathered in his mouth, he made his forward move
Monkey see and monkey do, he once and all did prove