Monkey King (At The Buddhist Cave Temple At Dambulla) Poem by Sheena Blackhall

Hanuman, small monkey king
Adopts the perfect pose of the adept beggar
He has captured the plea to a T
Those soulful eyes, just on the brink of tears
That one hand cupped for alms like a broken stalk

Hs wife, two steps behind,
Clutches their skinny baby like a holdall
Full of credit cards in a land of thieves

Sitting, bored in the sun, a dreadlocked bead seller
Clucks invites with his tongue, extend his fingertips
Apes the potential giver. Lures them in,
Then throws a well-aimed stick.

Rage defeats servility. The small male screeches a war dance,
Wheels and charges, teeth bared like a demon.
The peddler bats him away,
A water bottle smacked against his snout
A laughter- ripple circulates the stalls
Then, silence in the cauldron of the sun.