Wild animals roam freely
in Africa's national parks,
like tribal peoples relocated
onto reservation lands.
They may be spared from being shot
for food, skins, or stuffed for nostalgia,
so long as they don't wander out
of their fenceless cages.
Lions, elephants, giraffes, and buffalo,
frolic in harmony together
seemingly indifferent to humans,
disguised within diesel fumes
perched from landrover rooftop openings
with quick camera-eyes
shooting trophy poses to take home
and show off like sports action
trading cards.
Wild animals of Africa,
like indigenous peoples on reservations
around the world, have one choice,
stay in their places assigned
by their adoring conquerors,
or be destroyed ever more quickly.
These wild beasts of Africa,
have affluent admiring aliens to thank
for paying park entrance fees
and creating wildlife conservation funds.
Even if they are no longer free
to be quite so wild.
DAYZ IN PASSION
Jan. 2001
Iringa, Tanzania
(c)2004 all rights reserved
by Sun-Optikos Publications
Madison, Wisconsin 53701-1503
