Jane Goodall does not lobby for an end to all animal experimentation. Her own mother benefited from the valve of a pig's heart that enabled her to live many years longer. But we all should know that animals do have feelings. And if we are to "use" them to make our lives better, should we not treat the subjects as humanely as possible in return for their forced duty? I wrote this poem in response to a true story. It happened just about like this.

Key to Survival

The visiting journalist approached the cell

Just prior to the final act. The big male inside

Had seen the writer before but showed no recognition.

"What do you want?" the pundit asked.

"The key," the sullen male replied.

Then the columnist went next door

To another building with another prisoner—

Another male with a different fate, yet cruelly confined.

"What do you want?" asked the questioner.

And the male said honestly, "Food, drink . . . and key."

The next day, the wordsmith returned

For more visits with more inmates who were outcasts—

Shunned more now than they had ever been before.

"What do you want?" the man asked a female captive.

After a lengthy dialogue, the saddened female said,

"Eat," and "Drink," and "Berry," and "Hat," and "Key."

They all wanted the key. Of course, they did.

Wouldn't you? But these caged ones spoke not a word—

Out loud. No. They spoke with their nimble hands. Their

Nimble minds told their digits what to speak. These

Prisoners are not human wards. These

Thoughtful ones are CHIMPANZEES!

Apes, mandated volunteers for scalpel and bludgeon duty,

Unsung heroes of the planet's demand for

Vivisection, xenografts, and

Medical research.

We—that's you—and that's me . . . It's all of us—

Everyone who can read and write and vote,

We are the wardens, the captors, the judges, and

The crucifiers of these innocents—these cousins of ours

Who share our form and our sentiments but

Their words, though signed—

Fall on deaf ears.

 

© 1998 North Star to Heaven

by Tim Brown

The poem “Key to Survival” was inspired by the true fate of Ally, Nim, and Jezebel. They and many other ape subjects have been apt and willing learners of our language as spoken using ASL. Though they learned our words, and hence could, to a degree, think like us—how could they ever comprehend us or what we do to them? With funds removed from their sign language school, these chimpanzees were never spoken to again. They mutely got in line with hundreds of others for duty beneath the scalpel, the bludgeon, or syringe. Thank you, Dale Peterson and Jane Goodall for the crucial book, Visions of Caliban.

To purchase a copy, please go to: http://www.amazon.com/Visions-Caliban-Chimpanzees-Dale-Peterson/dp/0820322067

With special thanks to Jennifer Doheny, creator of HELLO FRIEND, a chimpanzee portrait on old book pages in wax, dye, pen and pencil. Jennifer graciously allowed us to use her artwork here. Please visit Jennifer’s website: http://jenniferdoheny.typepad.com/ to see “Jennifer Doheny’s art and her overall interest in creating a magic Earth.” We also encourage animal and art lovers to visit Jennifer’s online sales outlet at: esty store.