Out of the Closet

It is time I spoke the truth.
It is time the world knew.
It is time doors were opened,
Window shutters flung wide.

I am a lemur.

No reason to hide any longer.
Even though
It will scandalize the family;
Mother will break out the Valium;
Father will stop speaking to me.

Just as well.

I am headed for the moist, hungry jungles of Madagascar.

No longer forced to hold a day job,
Nocturnal, I will be free in the leaves.
Eyes as large as 90 watt bulbs.
No more need for an automobile
(My feet barely reached the pedals,
Could hardly see over the wheel.)
No, I'll swing through the green, humid air,
Silent as a moth.

No more pants for me.

Free at last,
I'll grasp branches with wise, sturdy tail.
Eat large beetles sweet as caramels.
Move with unpremeditated grace,
Spontaneous gentility,
And never have to say a word.

Not a monkey.
Not a man.
Not a mistake.

But a lemur, and proud.

High in the branches,
My comrades and I will
Plot the coming Revolution.
Plant seeds of a juicy,
Green, sidewalk splitting riot
Of root and vine,
A delicate orchid outbreak.

But we move so slowly,
And the moon makes us dizzy with delight,
And there is nothing like mutual
Belly scratching, amongst close lemur friends.

So probably we will never get around to it.

So don't worry.

Your big buildings,
Your trucks, cars, planes, and trains,
Your time saving devices,
Your New and Improved products with
Added Freshness,
Your asphalt worry mad scramble death machine,
The grimaced faced crowd purchasing pushing rushing and working,
This world of you big dumb stumblers
I once moved through,
Footsore and sad,
Is safe from a sleepy lemur revolt,

For a little while longer.