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Poetry
The Monkey and the Whale
By Katanga
17 April 2008


I'm trying to celebrate, and at the same time be cynical about, romance and romantic writing. I don't know how it comes across, so any comments are really welcome!
 
Cheers! Katanga (Well, call me John, my real, less pretentious name!)



The Monkey and the Whale


The Monkey was tired of his tree top home
So he travelled far and wide
Searching for a primal dream
And a suitable bride

He set out less than well prepared
And more than a little depressed
He trudged the world despondently
On a failing romantic quest

His journeying took him farther
Than any bird can fly
Until he came to a seaful place
Where he lay down to die

But the birds there took pity
The Seagull and the Dove
And sang to him of ocean tides
Where swam his waiting love

He listened and took notice
Of their romantic harmonies
Roused himself and went in search
Of Love by the lonely seas

When the Monkey met the Whale at last
He knew that he had found
A love beyond the reckoning
Of all the sailors who have drowned

The Whale loved her Monkey
And carried him out to sea
Where they swam and danced and laughed aloud
In perfect harmony

So what of the Owl and the Pussycat
And their beautiful pea-green boat
They’ve got nothing on the Whale and the Monkey
I doubt they’re still afloat

Reviews
Romantic monkey
Written by mia_ms_kim (997 comments posted) 16th April 2008
This is very romantic. I feel for the romantic monkey, and I'm glad he found his Whale. I have a feeling they will do really well.  
 
Frankly this poem reminds me of a strangely mismatched couple I know. A girl in a local church suffering from rather severe cerebral palsy, she advertised in the local paper for a mate after much prayer. And a handsome healthy guy replied, but he was unemployed. When they married, many worried. But since then the guy found a job, and after many years together they have adopted a beautiful baby. They make me want to cry. 
 
Your monkey and whale - they moved me very much. They take the cynic out of me. 
 
Mia :)

Written by Josie (2780 comments posted) 17th April 2008
I actually think that this should be made into a story for the children's section rather than a poem Katanga. You could really go to town with description. Why don't you try it? It would be lovely.

Written by NedWilson (26 comments posted) 17th April 2008
There is always someone for each of us somewhere in the world so they say.
Thank you Mia and Josie
Written by Katanga (1182 comments posted) 17th April 2008
Mia - Thank you for this and for your true and moving story. It has occurred me that the happy and lasting union of two seemingly utterly incompatible people is one of life's more wonderful mysteries, and I guess that's what my poem is about. By the way, I loved your piece about the homeless man and his message on the cardboard. Hope you will submit more! 
 
You say 'I have a feeling they will do really well.' They do! I'm going to post a follow-up soon called 'The marriage of the Whale and the Monkey', which I hope will leave you in tears if you find it (only joking!). Another review from you would be great!  
 
Josie - Thank you for your suggestion, which has certainly got me thinking, and I'll have it up my sleeve as a project. It occurred to me that the short story you have in mind might be rather fun to illustrate - scenes of adventure from the Monkey's long journey culminating in the surreal but happy resolve of the meeting with the whale and their eventual marriage.
To Katanga
Written by Josie (2780 comments posted) 17th April 2008
Exactly. I think you could really do a wonderful story, with so much more detail than you can get into a poem. I do hope you try it for I feel it will work really well.
works well for the monkey
Written by mightymoose (4 comments posted) 17th April 2008
Whales have blow holes and plenty of blubber to keep the monkey warm.

Written by Brett (759 comments posted) 17th April 2008
One of the freshest poems I have read in a while, I enjoyed this very much. Very simple, but not without impact, and in one of our most popular forms; the ballad. 
I love the image of a monkey riding the vast whale out to sea. 
 
Cheers

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