Talk to the animals

I put on my winter hat, the one I knitted with cable stitches and ribs.
It's very warm.
And I pulled on my wooly black gloves with the leather palms so I can drive.
Then I went to the zoo.

The lady in the admissions booth didn't even open the window.
She just waved me through.
And I thought, hmmmm, does she recognize me?
Or is she just too cold to bother?

The red panda was out with all her babies.
Eating bamboo and whatever they found
While crawling up the fence and onto the top of their house.
All three babies eating. Mama watching.

The eagles watched me with curious eyes and I wondered.
If my brother was in there someplace
Watching me through eagle eyes
From the great beyond where he has gone.

The goofy guanacos were cavorting
Kicking up their heels
Examining me watching them
Coming close for a nose pat.

I sat for a while listening to the tiger roar.
His striped patterns pacing
Back and forth, impatient, enclosed
Wishing he were outside in the cold.

But the snow leopards were outside
Cuddled up, asleep,
Looking for all the world
Like they'd rather be in.

I paused here and there
A lonely human communing
With those less fortunate than I
And I think the animals understood.