SUMMER OF ‘66

It seems as if it was just yesterday that I was seated on our staircase

Overlooking our neighbor’s coconut grove watching the monkeys

Descend in troops, more than three or four generations of them 

Making merry, unheeding the frail landlady trying to drive them away. 

 

From the comfort and safety of our stairs I observed them all closely

Responsible mothers with their babies hugging their tummies

Periodically shoving them in place when the kids’ grip would loosen

And baring their sharp canines if anyone dared tease them.

 

Jealous males fighting with each other, while she-monkeys looked on

Grandmas picking lice and ugh(!) popping them into their mouths

The strong and heavy looking leader surveying the entire grove

Assigning different areas of the coconut trees to everyone in his tribe.

 

Once order was established, they would raise a ruckus all around

In no time they would have plucked the coconuts from the bunches

Skill fully rip out the fiber with their sharp nails and break the shell

Enjoy the fresh cool tender water and throw the coconut away!

 

The kids would then jump on the ground and play with each other

Till called by their parents for a further refill which they would gorge

Then start jumping from one branch to branch, swinging and tugging

While elders held their meetings sometimes snarling at each other.

 

I had just finished school and it was my first long summer vacation

Watching the unity among the monkeys greatly fascinated me.

Now as I turn seventy, I feel intimidated and scared of them 

But love reminiscing their antics and revelry of the summer of ’66.