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Binturong (Arctictis binturong) at Overloon, Netherlands: photo by Tassilo Rau, Summer 2004
The Binturong
or bearcat
is neither bear nor cat
It dwells
in the trees
of the rainforest canopy
Eats fruit eggs
shoots leaves
birds and small animals
Its only natural enemy
man
who cuts down the rainforest
Not many Binturong left
when cornered vicious
when happy emits
Chuckling sounds
Bushy prehensile tail
like a fifth hand
Fully as long as its body
Swings along by it
through the trees
Leaping from branch
to branch
Rotates its head backwards
So that claws grip
as it climbs down a tree
head first
Scent of Binturong musk
reminiscent of cornbread
and hot buttered popcorn
Brushes its great tail against trees
and howls
to announce its presence
To other Binturong
It's been here all along
Maybe not much longer
A young bear cat kept as a pet by Orang Asli in Taman Negara (Malaysia): photo by Bart Van den Bosch,16 August 2004
Head of a binturong (arcticts binturong), Jardin des Plantes, Paris: photo by Jastrow, 2006
I always take something new away with me, each time I read you. Thank you for that, Thomas.
ReplyDelete'To other Binturong It's been here all along Maybe not much longer' that's a 'take with me' thought.
Tom, a touch of the Marianne Moores here? And that's a compliment, believe me.
ReplyDeleteThey say you can't take it with you. But I shall happily take these kind words from my fellow poets with me, through the day, as I swing through the trees by my bushy tail.
ReplyDeleteTom, thanks for sending me to this one, and yes, keep on swinging through those trees, dude!
ReplyDelete