Families run drive by shootings
Pointing their phones to take a quick snap
Dragging their brood from base to base, "look at the lion!"
They point at his general direction
Without much regard for what they observe
They mindlessly lick their icecream, so don't read the signs.
Belch out the wrong names with assured ignorance
I'm not much better for I am a ******, resting on the ground
Staring in admiration in the bonobos' 3 walled lounge
Yet I absorb their being, learn each flinch and nuance
Their complexity should eclipse any human arrogance
And all but one ignore me, a little girl
With flicky black hair, large curious eyes and bandy limbs
A cute little girl, charismatic, adorable, wild
I show her my drink, I show her my toys, I show her my intentions
I smile. Her name is Malaika, she lives up to her name
Angelically pretty in her bonoboish way
She carries her sister on her back, her mother sits dignified
Slender and slight
I chase Malaika and she gallops away
She joins me with glee in our little game
she kicks the glass and I knock it back, she shakes her head
exposing her cheeky tongue and pulling a face
Unabashed I return the gesture, mirroring her apelike flamboyance
her imagination shatters glass, when I puckered my lips she kissed me back!
I held her attention for so long, I'll hold her friendship deep in my heart
I hear people come and go, obligatory point and click
running through from door to door, calling "baby monkey!"
I leave no room for shudders, my wonder drowns out the others
young children see it too, just another young being looking back through
But alas, mum tugs their harness, "time to get hotdogs I'm ****** starving"
Blindness is learned, though it's a habit easy to kick
I'm honoured to be in your presence, little Malaika
I'm flattered you find me intriguing, little Malaika
You run along now, join your mother and sister
Yet here I remain, stuck to the ground
Watching intently, mesmerised by their sound  
I don't want to leave, so relaxed I could sleep.
No time spent is wasted when it's spent in this room, just me and my cousins.
Just me and you.