Golden Dreams in a Bamboo Haze

When the panda took a rest, a ’boo stalk

in his paw, a drowsy gaze drifted upwards

and a flicker of gold caught his eye—

the Golden Hair Snub Nose Monkeys—

seven or eight

maybe ten or twelve, a merry mingle

little babies clinging to bellies

of mommies, high in the canopies

some snacking on fresh leaves

but mostly leaping from tree to tree

with ease and grace

a playground in the sky—a glee gala

the monkeys swing from one branch

to another in a golden flame

one bold monkey swung lower than the rest

bright eyes meeting the panda’s dark eyes

chattering as monkeys do as if asking

the panda to join

the aerial ballet and the panda shifted

his weight and sighed, maybe another day.