A 'Zoo' Is Not a 'Circus'

A 'Zoo' Is Not a 'Circus'

By Seah Greenhorn
(poem with copyright)

A tragedy skillfully eluded; though casualities
not wholly spared,

when under the Supreme guidance
of the Founder

diverse creatures

(wild, domestic,
some tragically extinct)

He lovingly redirected, recaged,
and nutritionally fed.

He honestly cared.

*

An organization
He originally developed;

an audience
Not
simply to impress:

Education,
Enlightenment,

and feats of nature,
especially children,
appreciatively observed, through

Zoos--
internationally addressed.

(Established
for the edification of All.)

A marvelous system.
A wonderful exchange.

Some audience and animal interaction.
Abundant knowledge to gain.

This atmosphere of 
introspective
comradery

He blessed.

But a 'Zoo' is
Not a 'Circus,'

though animals in common exist.
And peace between men and mammals

Must harmoniously persist.

For a 'Ring Master'
commands
attention;

Demands
acknowledgement
as he cracks his leather whip.

The world to seduce--an ocean.
His arrogance steers his ship.

To entertain--Now that's his profession!
Total amusement
ostensibly his desire.

For exclamations solely.
His ideas provocatively inspired.

But a 'Ring Master'
the Founder
did not need.

A 'Ring Master'
He did not hire.

*

The bars of security and protection
distracted guardians

hazardly forgot.

Foolishy kept raised.

Lives of humans and animals
endangered,
as caretakers
humorously played.

Amidst
giggles, laughs, claps and praise
once contained lions
the 'Ring Master' unwisely let prowl,

while around the grounds
snakes stealthy slithered;

unauthorized; thus unpaid.

Restraints necessary
indifferently mislaid.

Tiny chipmunks and other critters
immediately disappeared

as sidelined monkeys
paced and squealed

when crocodiles
devoured

unattended, re- or misdirected,
sadly unprotected baby seals.

Yet ... averted? ... Total chaos!
with principles old and new now applied.
The 'Ring Masters?' ... Wicked history.
Their crew forcibly fired.

Bars lowered painstakingly raised;

re-focus, gently, yet firmly renewed.

The zoo's brief ambivelent spirit
to no longer embue.

For a 'Zoo'
Is Not;

Should not ever 'be'
a 'Circus'.

And a 'Circus'

Cannot Be

a 'Zoo!'

http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/102004121?q=circus&p=par
http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2001923?q=blind+guides&p=par