The Other Side of Zoo by Christine Anne Borra



Photo by Christine Anne Borra
Beautiful Lady
Melbourne Zoo memory



Have you stopped to think, I think not

Of how you look, looking in

from across the bars, who are the stars

of the animals living within?



Maybe it's the chimpanzees

or the Monkeys that you tease

or maybe the bear, that sways as your stare

or the hyena's, with their terrible grin?



Considered the peaceful Gorilla

who sit like stone cut pillar's

perfect manners displayed, for you here today

yet you treat them like criminal killers

Why you ooow and you arrr, beat your chest, shake the bars

you holler and hoot, you well mannered brute

and quiet they sit, taking it in

watching the show, despite the great din

Why your antic's are strange, despite all your brains

the dumb beastie's, can only conclude you're deranged

and here on the other side of the zoo

are you not concerned of what they think of YOU?

Melbourne trip 2011