The Indian Hanumans

Black-mouthed but grey and golden haired hanumans, Indian hanumans, Chimpanzees, Jumping upon the tiled houses, On tin roofs. With the small child ogling and winking at Under the belly, The females jumping and running away, Gnashing the teeth indignantly, Sometimes you awe-struck by its presence And they snatching the things from your hands. Sometimes on the way meeting you strangely, Held by surprise, You looking in fear and suspense, What will the animal do, Taking the name of God, Going unmindfully, after being indifferent to avert the gaze. Sometimes grin they, may take you be strike, May slap you if teased, Wild, tameless and savage The hanumans, Indian hanumans, May bite too If threatened. It is better you go your way, disturb it not As the hanuman a hanuman, Not a man, but an animal, A brute savage, A beast of the forest, Cannot be cultured. Perched on the top of the tree twigs, Sitting and enjoying the rustles of leaves, Looking up to the skyways blankly, Marking the crows and birds chirping About the coming of the strange guest With the tail hanging down. The black-mouthed Indian hanuman smiling not, But grinning, gnashing the teeth, Ready to snatch And if teased or ogled may bite or slap Or scratch The beast of the wilds, The brute of the woods. Just like a man, a prototype of his, But an ape, With a tail, Jumping from the tree branches And going on the hands and the legs, The white-haired, but blackly-mouthed hanuman. A chimpanzee growling if ogle you, stare into the eyes, Keep your lips shut, smile too not, If by you, avert the gaze Otherwise it may cost you With a hard stare, a gnash of teeth and a fierce expression.