Dancing Monkeys

by Christie Van Dusen

A prince was born, a sliver spoon he held

Inside his mouth. Desiring something to

Amuse him, summoned he a project. So

Some monkeys he was handed. Entertained

To train and teach, the prince who took the apes

And transformed them to civil men, he trained

Them next to dance. And to them all, he had

Installed each monkey with a mask and clothes.

He threw a ball for all the land and placed

The monkeys on a stage where they were shown

And proud to own, the prince was pleased to watch

Those dancing apes. Though most they fooled, there was

One man who failed to be deceived. Possessed

Was he with curiosity, he sought

Their exposition. Thought he, “Monkeys!”, such

Mysterious dancers. To them all he threw

Some nuts and watched his plan unfold. So it

Began; the monkeys ran. They lost their clothes

And masks and tools and fought to go and eat

Them. Thus, no more they fooled, the people left

To laugh. The prince, the fool, retreated to

His royal stool. His lesson learned, the prince

Now knew that mask a monkey as you will

But in reality a monkey is

What they will always be, despite their mask

Or jewelry. No training could have changed

These beasts and there the lesson had been taught:

That something cannot be what it is not!