The Recent Ape Poem by John a'Beckett

So say in Indo-China, anyway
by palm and flick of clock
they let the monkey draw-
fast out of lots –the straw
for their primeval pay
pot luck

What’s in a kind of canny way
by calm and quick Bangkok
we let the one we just saw-
flick it from the hot, raw
hair of its arm-pit to say
what pluck!

And find in such a popinjay,
(his charm to mimic, mock)
the recent ape not so unwise
to then spasmodic, realize
our need to pass away
what buck?

That furry face, a grin at play
mouth-eyes-ears, a-block
Denying him a ready evil
seems a trifle.. medieval
and shun him with
“No truck! ”