The People Consider Themselves Lucky

I.
This place is blessed—
That is why monkeys live here.
They come because the people are friendly
And they worship them as a god.

Black-faced langours—Hanuman the monkey god.

II.
They sit on the roof of my kitchen, says Illan.
I'm afraid of the monkeys because
They are not afraid of women.

They frighten us, but—
Whenever we forgive them they forgive us.
When we say we're sorry they forgive us—
That’s why they are sacred.

III.
They roam the town, raiding gardens, kitchens, and shopping bags.
They steal and break into houses.

On the roof of the hospital
the monkeys are certain visitors will have food for the patients.

When we come here, groups of monkeys surround us, says Illan.
They snatch things away from us.
If we object, they quarrel.
They scratch our faces and tear our clothes.

IV.
A century ago, there were thousands of them—
Now their numbers are down.

The danger for the monkeys is electric wires;
They are not insulated, says Illan.
When they jump from branch to branch
They touch the wires and are electrocuted.

V.
Move the monkeys to woods outside the town.
Sedate the dominant males and the others will follow.

A few hours later the male monkeys were back
They get very angry, but she still respects the monkeys.