Get
To Know
|
 The
Siamang
(Symphalangus syndactylus) is a tailless, arboreal, black furred gibbon
inhabits the forest remnants of Sumatra Island and the Malay Peninsula,
and is widely distributed from lowland forest to montane forest, even
a rainforest. Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park is the third largest
protected area (3,568 kmē) in Sumatra, of which approximately 2,570 kmē
remains under forest cover inhabit by 22,390 siamangs. The Siamang's melodious
choir singing breaks the forest's silence in the early morning. The largest
of the lesser apes, the Siamang can be twice the size of other gibbons,
reaching 1 m in height, and weighing up to 14 kg.
The Siamang eats at least 160 species of plants, from vines to woody plants.
It also eats flowers and a few animals, mostly insects. Although the Siamang
can live up to 30+ years, the illegal pet trade takes a toll on wild populations.
Poachers kill the mothers because mother Siamang are highly protective
of their infants. A major threat to the Siamang is habitat loss due to
plantation, forest fire, illegal logging, encroachment, and human development.
Palm oil plantations have removed large areas of the Siamang's habitat
in the last four decades. These and other illegal activities have devastated
their remaining tropical rainforest especially in Sumatra.
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Visitation Rights
by
Francis Raven
You have to have a state to get a ticket.
You have to have a ticket to get into the legislative gallery.
You have to obtain a ticket from your Senator or Representative
(Remember that
The Senate gallery is not open if the Senate is not in session.)
I wasn't sure if Washington counted
(The District often doesn't: "Taxation W/O Representation")
So I asked for the office of Missouri, where I grew up.
(Besides, your is tricky.
Aren't they all mine?)
A secretary handed me a pass. I followed.
"Wait in the line in front of the people who are waiting in the line
for tours."
The ticket said I couldn't write anything down.
And I ask you, how is this democracy?
How is the Poet of Bureaucracy supposed to write his masterpiece
If he can't write anything down?
I decided I would risk it since I wasn't there for my own enjoyment
But to inhale the inspiration of these wise congressmen and women:
I folded a sheet of paper and began to write when out of the blue
A secret service agent pointed at me and firmly said: "Put that Away."
Therefore, this is all from memory.
I'm sorry if it lacks the immediacy
Of being in the midst
Of approving the previous day's journal.
Francis Raven's books include the volumes of poetry, Provisions
(Interbirth, 2009), Shifting the Question More Complicated (Otoliths,
2007) and Taste: Gastronomic Poems (Blazevox, 2005) as well as
the novel, Inverted Curvatures (Spuyten Duyvil, 2005). Poems of
mine have been published in Bath House, Chain, Big Bridge,
Bird Dog, Mudlark, Caffeine Destiny, and Spindrift
among others. My critical work can be found in Jacket, Logos,
Clamor, The Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism, The
Electronic Book Review, The Emergency Almanac, The Morning
News, The Brooklyn Rail, 5 Trope, In These Times,
The Fulcrum Annual, Rain Taxi, and Flak.
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The
Siamang
- Issue Seven