The Monkey In The Neighborhood.... Poem by RIC BASTASA

i love that
monkey

it asks food
from me
and when given
it hides
it all inside his
mouth
tongue-in-check
if you have
seen it

and then it asks
some more
begging
like a pitiful
child
without a mother

and if begging
does not work
it charms you
with its tiny hands
its fingers
mapping for
lice
in your hair
while its tail
tickles
your armpit
you feel that
and remember
something before
when you
were once
as young & horny as
that imaginary
gazelle

it is this
begging game
that you like most

you are not
a monkey

stop it

it does not
look good for you

you lose your charm
and even the monkey
thinks
that by imitating it
you have
become detestable.