The Fear of Monkeys - The Best E-Zine on the Web for Politically Conscious WritingThe Howler - Issue Six
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The Howler Monkey photo from Christian Artuso

The Howler Monkey
The Howler Monkey is among the largest of the New World monkeys. They range in size from 56 to 92 cm, and like many New World monkeys, they have prehensile tails. They have a short snout, and wide-set, round nostrils. Howlers eat mainly top canopy leaves, together with fruit, buds, flowers, and nuts and have a lifespan of 15 to 20 years. They move quadrapedally and do not brachiate, usually holding on to a branch with at least two hands or one hand and the tail at all times. They very seldom leave the trees, rest about 80 percent of the time and are considered the least active of all monkeys.

   

 

Downsizing

by

Ben Macnair

   
"I am afraid we can no longer justify your position," said the Manager.
Thinking about how he would spend his bonus,
getting fat off someone else's work,
he twiddles his executive thumbs
around a broken Newton's Cradle.

"I am afraid that we cannot afford redundancy payments," said the Manager,
thinking about the perks of watching a game from the Director's Box.
"I am afraid that we cannot pay you more," said the Manager,
to the remaining staff.

"We will just expect you to work harder, for a lot less,"
said the Manager, parachuted in above his station.

His consultancy fees alone break the budget
of a company to close to the edge.

"We must put on a good show," said the Manager,
"low morale and idle chatter will not be tolerated,
and anyone who is not a yes man,
can be easily terminated."

Months later, the Manager was downsized,
his perks were taken away,
until he sued for unlawful dismissal,
and took the whole firm down with him.
     
     

Ben Macnair was born in 1976 in Nottingham, and now resides in Staffordshire. He has been writing creatively on and off for the last four or five years. His poetry has appeared in Purple Patch, Raw Edge, and various other small print publications, and was featured in the National Poetry Anthology for 2005, 2006, and 2008, 2009 and the forthcoming 2010. His short stories have appeared in Twisted Tongue, and in two Forward Press Anthologies, whilst journalism and reviews have appeared in Blues, Britain Magazine, Verbal Magazine, and various local newspapers and The Independent. Look for his poetry chapbook, This is how it feels before the Rain on the Amazon Kindle E-store.

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