Ricky Garni: The Tarsier

sounds so french.

it's really from asia.

it jumps from tree to tree.

the tarsier eye is as large as its brain.

it likes to go out at night

and is oh so furry.

it eats the meat of insects.

can you imagine being an insect,

playing cards or something,

and suddenly there is this tarsier right there?

there are a number of things that make this tiny primate

interesting but just when you start to think like a scientist

you see his cute little pink nose and can’t think like a scientist

you don’t hear his scream as he jumps towards you

but make no mistake: it jumps towards you

guided by crazy eyes

if you are made of meat naturally

things will happen that beg apology

try to make a tarsier apologise

it's impossible

just plain impossible

but that’s not the point of tarsiers

not the point not the point at all

the point of the tarsier is:

they make insects scream and die

and have big green eyes filled with trees

Published 2012. It leaves me with mixed feelings: the poet seems to be covering his own confusion about the subject with easy cynicism and easier tweeness. But how many poems about tarsiers are there?