finding myself
I open the cages
I travel on paths
where I once was we
I open the cages
calm and unafraid
where I once was we
everything begins again
calm and unafraid
as intersected species
everything begins again
inside and out
as intersected species
abiding in before and after
inside and out
following life’s tides
abiding in before and after
I travel on paths
following life’s tides
finding myself
Sherry posted at earthweal this week about Jane Goodall and how her work with chimpanzees led her to start “Roots and Shoots, her program, now 30 years old, that inspires young people to plant trees and care for the areas in which they live”.
I knew I had posted before about chimpanzees as part of my endangered species series on methodtwomadness. When I went back and looked, I found that I had also talked then about Jane Goodall and her work.
Chimpanzees are our closest genetic relative. Of course we still have plenty of work to do learning to treat other humans with respect. We can start by opening the cage doors.
My first pantoum of the week–there will be more.
K. 
Yes, more! More! ❤
I so enjoy how you sew words together, Kerfe.
-David
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks David (as always).
LikeLiked by 1 person
enjoyed the poem memadtwo!
LikeLike
Thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I LOVE the opening of cage doors – when we do, the cages of our shrivelled hearts will open too and we will blossom. I LOVE this poem. And the wonderful painting. Sigh. So compassionate.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Sherry. Your words were inspiring.
LikeLike
you are right, too – Ms. Goodall is one of the brightest lights of hope of the modern age. That she is able to inspire more, we can hope ~
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes. We need the young to save us at this point I’m afraid.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a clever response to this prompt. I enjoyed it a lot.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Suzanne. Goodall’s work resonates in so many ways.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A beautiful pantoum. “everything begins again” Quite right.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Manja. It does.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What sweet faces they have!
LikeLiked by 1 person
They do. They are not trying to hide anything.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes to opening the cage doors and treating them with respect.
You make me want to write a pantoum. No time right now though. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve been on a pantoum kick. Just entered two in a competition as well–of course I know pantoums rarely get chosen, but they feel right to me at the moment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good luck!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Open the cages and the journey begins. I always enjoyed this form. I haven’t written one in a while. May have to give it a go. So beautiful and a reminder there is hope…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, it’s one of my favorite forms. Goodall’s work does give us hope.
LikeLike
“Intersected species” is a curious term, I couldn’t find anything about it in relation to this elsewhere so I guess its an invention of your own. The genetics of hope? Whatever, it’s a calming and hopefully prescient weave. The illustrations are lovely. We need to extend the legal rights of humans to animals and trees. Mastery is peril. – Brendan
LikeLike
Thanks Brendan, that’s so true. Yes, it’s my own term. I think we all are intersected. (K)
LikeLike
Your paintings are absolutely beautiful! And I too find the idea of intersected species very powerful: we all come from the same source after all.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We do. It’s very emotional to really look at a chimp’s face. You can feel the relationship.
LikeLiked by 1 person