A precious stone they called him
\nA gift from Cologne Zoo
\nTo Kabul Zoo on Kabul river
\nWhen he was just two
\nThat was in 1976
\nIt was a thriving place
\nBut was dangerous and very threatening
\nAnd wars moved on at a pace
\nThe soviets came
\nAnd in 1992 a civil war
\nRaged throughout the country
\nKillings like never before<\/p>\n
The animals were neglected
\nThe zoo a battlefield
\nBombs and bullets were flying
\nTime alone revealed
\nHow The animals bore the brunt of it
\nOne keeper managed he
\nbegged and borrowed and did his best
\nTo feed them and to see<\/p>\n
“Marjan” and his lioness “Chu cha”
\nExisted just about
\nBut they were clearly starving
\nAnd all around the rout
\nOf Kabul was really vicious
\nThey were abandoned’ and
\nLeft to their own resources
\nWhilst the flames of war were fanned<\/p>\n
The illogicalness of wartime
\nSaw a soldier for a bet
\nCome into the lion enclosure
\nAnd “CHu cha”he did pet
\nShe apparently allowed him too
\nBut “Marjan” leapt and killed
\nThe man’ they both were starving
\nIn male Lions its instilled
\nTo protect and thus he did that
\nAnd the man was mauled and died
\nThe next day his brother threw some grenades
\nAnd With no where to hide
\n“Marjan” took the full force
\nThe blast blinded him and he
\nWas deafened and lost half his teeth
\nAnd withstood the agony<\/p>\n
His courage and commitment
\nTo the task in hand
\nWas really quite remarkable
\nIts hard to understand
\nWithout sufficient food
\nJust scraps that people brought
\nHe really was a brave heart
\nAnd continually he fought<\/p>\n
Off the general weakness
\nHe the protector who
\nManaged to live for another 7 years
\nBut what did karma do
\nWithin a week of the grenade attack
\nThat man was attacked and killed
\nSo “Marjan” with his spirit
\nReally he fulfilled<\/p>\n
All he could and in 2001
\nWhen the the Americans arrived
\nHe was taken to the veterinary
\nAnd he had survived
\nIt all, the fear and hopelessness
\nAnd the injuries as well
\nAs the heaven he had come to
\nBecame a place where hell<\/p>\n
Had really taken over
\nWarring everywhere
\nShells and bombs and rockets
\nHow could that be fair
\nWe take these beautiful animals
\nWild created they
\nSuffer in our prisons forever
\nAnd a day
\nZoos are always businesses
\nand the animals go down hill
\nNeglect and coming to terms
\nWith it really that is still<\/p>\n
What happens to zoo animals
\nFor them captivity
\nGoes against creation
\nAnd how it was mean’t to be
\n“Marjan” has become a symbol
\nOf the savagery of man
\nOf how he fought for his freedom
\nWhich was always his plan<\/p>\n
The zoo is once again a zoo
\nAnd in the entrance there
\nA beautiful memorial
\n“Marjan” does now share
\nThe ground where he lies buried
\nSince 2002
\nA symbol of Kabul’s survival
\nA Brave soul good and true<\/p>\n
What have we learned though
\nFrom all of this
\nWhere we ought to be
\nIs sharing this world
\nWith the animal tribes
\nAnd preventing captivity
\nHabitats lost
\nConsigns wild souls
\nTo the horror that we inflict
\nThey become pawns on our chessboards
\nEach one a convict<\/p>\n
“Marjan” stood for something
\nHis life his death his pain
\nAround the world so many zoo’s
\nBut duplicity again
\nIs stretched throughout emotions
\nOur corruptibility
\nWe imagine we know better
\nWhen in reality<\/p>\n
We take the land they were given
\nCreation made it so
\nWe disrespect our mother
\nShe truthfully does know
\nThe balance of the biosphere
\nHer candour and her troth
\nIs clearly always heartfelt
\nAnd aware and she has both<\/p>\n
“Marjan” was a guru
\nA teacher and a sage
\nBut to this day even in Kabul
\nThey continue off the page
\nThey miss the point completely
\nIn what is the financial world
\nWhere angels very reluctantly
\nStill to this day are hurled<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A precious stone they called him A gift from Cologne Zoo To Kabul Zoo on Kabul river When he was just two That was in 1976 It was a thriving place But was dangerous and very threatening And wars moved … Continue reading