Maternal Instinct

by Heather Knight

Mother Gorilla's body is bent,
her head touches the ground in sorrow
while life goes on around her in the forest.

the tall trees hide the bright sun,
but she knows it's still shining.
she wants to turn it off,
she wants to go back in time.

she remembers the days
when she carried Baby inside her tummy.
she remembers the gentle suckling.

they went everywhere together,
Mother Gorilla always carried Baby,
she clung to her back.
they groomed each other,
they loved each other.
only words were missing,
looks and actions said everything.
proximity, gentle touch.

Baby could eat nuts,
but her mother's milk equalled comfort.
they were a team
and planned to be one forever.
Baby loved to lean on her mother's arm,
but she also loved to play,
till she didn't.
was it a cold, a fever,
or just fate?

Big Sister tried to cheer Baby up,
but she wouldn't move,
wouldn't eat.
just wouldn't.
and then one day,
she just stopped breathing.
her little body tired, spent.

her mother though,
didn't leave her behind.
loving and tender,
grief eating at her heart,
she took her little daughter's corpse
wherever she went.

Mother Gorilla knew
there was a bond between them
that was stronger than death.
she grieved, her eyes became misty,
her fur lost its shine
as she followed her troop,
her eyes lowered under
the unforgiving stare of the Silverback.
because emotions, he thought, were useless.

nothing matters though,
Mother Gorilla knows
she will meet Baby again.
Baby's next life will be long
and when she comes back
as the maple-like creature
after which she was named
Mother Gorilla will lie down by her roots
to die a gentle death.

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No Rules Poetry Contest contest entry

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My poem is sad, but hopeful. I hope it reads like that to you. Thanks for your time.

Although the main characters in my post are gorillas and the story in the video is about chimpanzees, it seems their behaviour when it comes to grieving is pretty similar.

PLEASE NOTE that this video contains material that may be disturbing to some viewers.

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Maternal Instinct

by Heather Knight

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