Bonzo

My mother died in a research lab 
lobotomized with electrodes. 
My brother beat astronauts into space 
onboard missiles no man would fly. 
My destiny lay in Hollywood. 
Trainers dressed me in tutus 
bribed me to pirouette and wave 
glitter wands onstage. 
Audiences laughed breathless 
at my monkeyshines. 
Actors tucked me into bed on camera 
locked me in my cage at night. 
A blonde dragged me on a leash 
showed me off at parties 
fancied me her movie star's pet. 
But I grew too big, too strong 
for the camera's narrow focus. 
Now I live alone in another's cage 
last member of Control Group D 
fur, skin, and bone, diseased. 

Scott Speck
12/02/98