At The Wildlife Park Poem by RIC BASTASA

the monkeys stare at us
and so are the cockatoos
the alligators the porcupines
the boas and cobras
they're all named, numbered
and confined in their cells
others in glass others in iron grills

they're all for open view
of course for a fee to maintain
the park and the man made wildlife

sometimes i ask myself
they are but prisoners
on what charge? upon whose
complaint? what penalties?
when will their incarceration end?
what is the justification of their capture?

oh i see, just for our pleasure.