ananova.com Dec 18, 2001

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Poets pleased with response from baboons

A group of seven Chilean poets who held a poetry reading in a baboon enclosure have praised the animals' patience.

It had been feared they could attack the poets who wanted to demonstrate baboons are more receptive to poetry than their countrymen.

Poet Leonel Lienlaf says were surprised by the warm welcome they had got from the monkeys at Santiago's Metropolitan Zoo.

Colleague Raúl Zurita told Las Ultimas Noticias newspaper he was pleased they had not attacked the cage the poets were in.

"In fact, they were impressively alert, as well as showing the kind of curiosity we associate with young children," he said.

Mr Lienlaf added: "I was very surprised by the warmth of their welcome to us. They

were very quiet during our reading, although we sometimes saw their playful side."

The paper reports the baboons seemed particularly interested when Guillermo García addressed them directly.

"Yesterday, my dear baboons, I had a profound dream. I dreamt that one day

humanity would again live in harmony with you," the poet told his audience.

The poetry of Lienlaf and Jorge del Río also provoked a response. During both readings the baboons climbed to the top of their tower and began shrieking.

The seven poets ended with an epic poem which they read. Mr Zurita said: "There was certainly a profound silence during that piece. At least that's how I remember it."

-- (lars@indy.net), December 19, 2001

Answers

"Yesterday, my dear baboons, I had a profound dream. I dreamt that one day

humanity would again live in harmony with you," the poet told his audience.

-- (lars@indy.net), December 19, 2001.

Read Ishmael.

-- (very@good.book), December 19, 2001.

Bobonos smarter. Would've just kept fuckin their brains out making and keeping friends human literature be damned. Suggest Billy keep his pants on tight should he venture to Bobono land.

-- Carlos (riffraff@cybertime.net), December 20, 2001.