The Orangutan’s Lament

We cuddle, we snuggle
we hug and we preen
alone in the forest
against the machine
the great powerful saws
teeth as strong as steel
the great well oiled axes
that crash down for real
tear through the bark
into the trees
their cries can be heard
as their roots try to seize
the earth in those moments
when the trunk is afire
as a great rush of sap
tries to rush higher
all those long years
with dramatic renown
it searched for the light
and it thrust its roots down
deep in the bowels
where the minerals lie
where moisture and warmth
came down from the sky
up in the canopy where
great buds sprout
and sweet florets of green
are what life was about
where arborial Apes
swung on great hairy arms
backwards and forwards
their leathery palms
clutching the boughs
and tasting the fruit
freedom was ours
life was such a hoot

We cuddle, we snuggle we hug
and we preen
so afraid of the corporate
cutting machine
that bites through great
trunks with consummate ease
tears out the heart
of our makeshift trapeze
we flew in the heavens
way up in the light
knowing our days
would be transformed to night
and down we would fall
clutching branches and leaves
and sit here a shuddering
as the world grieves
for the thousands of creatures
who have been misplaced
torn apart from the heart
as away they’ve been chased

the fall of the forest
the end of the trees
just enormous trunks
even Hercules,
himself couldn’t
cope with the power
and the strength
of these mammoth machines
who take out the length
and breadth of the forest
in under a day
such a, dreadful noise
unheard of some say
that deafens and frightens
and gives us the shakes
as we open our eyes
and alas our heart breaks

we sit all together
close to the road
where man trucks are moving
a great heavy load
we shiver in fright
nothing, we can do
but wait for the end
and hope some of you
are activist types
and will help to preserve
not those nastier gripes
with peculiar nerves
who imprison us in
rusty compounds called zoo’s
where we sit on the concrete
the bars to peruse

We are frightened
you break up our families
and we
love one another
most faithfully
Palm Oil and profit
man’s lust for it all
the once vibrant life line
was cut and we fall
by the wayside a chattering
shuddering few
thrust into a maelstrom
with nothing to do
whilst more dreary forests
of Palm oil do grow
a vile sheltered hell
where little to show
a haven far rats
and introduced owls
an inhospitable place
and where in prowls
the great the black cobra
but not much else dares
to live in this hell hole
with all its nightmares