Along the roads
outside and through the towns of Sri Lanka
are poles connected by three wires
perfectly spaced,
one below the next,
strung high at the top,
bringing power
to light,
to turn,
to cool,
to work for the people of Sri Lanka.
At night the fruit bats search and sup,
live their lives at speed
Pteropodidae needing a rest of convenience
echos his find and swoops,
an elegant half sommersalt
back, and up
with his prehensile clawed toes
encircles the top wire or the second wire
His fingered wings, scooping cuffs of air
he settles down for a rest upside down.
His bodies can be seen hanging by his prehensile clawed toes,
along the roads
and through the towns
on wires perfectly spaced to kill
the fruit bats of Sri Lanka
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ReplyDeleteA few people have asked if this is done on purpose; it is an accidental consequence of design. The consequences are that the fruit bats are dying. It is obvious to anyone who can look up and see, that the placement of the wires is what is killing these creatures. Who has the authority to make a change in the system and how much it will cost and what is the priority of acts to be initiated within the society after a twenty five year war? These are questions which I can't answer.
ReplyDeleteIt is some consolation to see trees usually near bodies of water filled at their tops to capacity with chattering, rambunctious Fox Bats hanging from limbs.