I had a monkey once

we called him Tiddler

He stayed with us for only one day

then we had to give him away

you see he was rescued by the ship’s chief engineer

who could not bear

what he did see

a little African grass monkey tide to a tree

pulling on a rope but could not get free

a woman kept him captive on this rope

He sat all alone looking lost with no life hope

So the chief engineer brought him on board my father’s ship

But ship’s company said little Tiddler monkey was not hip

They all said he had to leave the ship

Mother said he could come home with me

I thought we could share our tea

Now I must say

that day

our home was not quite right for monkey

who definitely wanted to be free

His stay with us lasted only one day and one night

the mess he wreaked was such a devastating sight

Mother said he had to go

Where? at that time she did not know

we put him into a cat travel cage

He flew into such a rage

jumping up and down

then turning round and round

Mother made a telephone call or two

Then said she now knew what to do

we were to take him to the vet

to find a new life the best yet

he would go for a lifelong sleep

my heart and eye began to weep

for this little bundle of skin and bone

with feet and hands that looked like my own

we ended up in the veterinary office

where the vet was no monkey novice

He said ‘Oh just what I wanted to find

To add to this little zoo of mine!’

My tears changed two happy smiles

I felt I could hop skip and jump for miles

especially when I got back to school

I found something wonderful and cool

my classroom friend was the vet’s daughter!

We shared lots of laughter

When she told me every day

about this monkey and his play

he grew into a handsome chap

specially when she dressed him in a fine coat and hat

He grew up became true to his wild state

He just had to escape

his cage, his garden, his monkey pen

nothing could hold him in

So they changed his name

because of this game

to escape artist

That was the last I heard of Tiddles

my African grass monkey

now if you find him any day

remember he likes to play

run away

Copyright @ Demici @ September 21 2024