Learned Behavior

            Father taught me animal courtesy,
            crowd the bowl-handier,
            put your hands in her face.

            Mother, why always?, "don't open the fridge
            with sticky fingers, don't lean on the door."

            Monkey washed fruit in the stream.
            I still do.

            Lunch With The Toucans

            Steal 3 pigeon eggs,
            add a scant cup of meal worms,

            teentsy insects if you've got 'em;
            toucs won't eat veggies unless you tell a story,

            Vermicelli of Roots.
            Set 35 minutes at cage temperature,

            serves a real role
            in courtship.

            Why Zebras Have Stripes

            If a lion were stalking you,
            wouldn't you be comfortable knowing Leo
            can't distinguish the stripes
            where you begin
            and where the herd ends?
            Of course, if he fancies your wife...

            Galapagos

            Maitre D' worried: flung one
            peeled banana
            in contention.

Copyright © Howard Fisch, 2002.  All Rights Reserved.