Orang-utan Crying

by Ken Williams

 

Forest wakes,

Brand new day.

Mother stretching,

Orang-utans play.

 

Little-ones rolling,

Little-ones tumbling.

Little-ones swinging,

Little-ones fumbling.

 

A sudden rumbling,

Looks of worry.

Engines roaring,

Little-ones scurry.

 

Forest falling,

Can’t find cover.

Little-ones scampering,

Can’t find Mother.

 

Engines blaring,

Forest bare.

Trees smouldering,

Nothing there.

 

Engines ceasing,

Mother enraged.

Trucks retreating,

Little-one’s caged.

 

Sun setting,

Forest dying.

Earth shattering,

Orang-utan crying.

 

• Highly commended in  the 12th Kathleen Julia Bates Memorial Writing Competition. For full results click here.