Ice Cream with Jange

The subject of my poem is a rhino called Jange who was orphaned at the age of 6 months. His mother was killed by poachers in Nepal. Unprotected after the loss of his mother the young rhino was attacked by a tiger. You can read his story below and learn why and how he came to be in Vienna Zoo.

In the poem I tried through using the plight of the rhino to bring to the mind of the reader the thought that an orphaned child in a war zone is not only in danger but probably cannot enjoy a simple pleasure like eating an ice cream. But the poem gives hope at least, for like Jange they too may eventually see better times.

I fled from a war's breaking news on TV

and wandered the zoo

for the day. 

One I saw there was Jange, the orphan 

the tiger attacked 

in Nepal,

Bathing in watery mud; 

and in it up to his chin 

in the sun. 

Armed with a cone of ice cream 

I reflected. O lucky is he  

this rhino, like me

At ease in the sun; 

 safe now from the guns 

of the hunt.