Peering through bougainvillea that sits
On their heads like mob caps,
Monkeys set up advance posts.
Soon, hands to ears, as if telephoning,
They establish links,
At pre-arranged signals swarming
In formation. Temples’ bronze domes
Attract them. They pick up stones
With their tails
Hurling them like cricketers,
Wizened businessmen
On a company spree.
They take over the place,
Noisy occupiers. Quickly bored,
Soon make themselves scarce.
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