Poems and Thoughts    by Frank Maurer

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Damming the Damning. I lived with an African Gray parrot for several years And was witness to its incredible ability to imitate. The Lincolnshire Wildlife Park in England has had to isolate parrots Which, within public earshot, started imitating riske vocabulary. The decision was eventually made to remove these individuals Back to the major flock, where it was anticipated, That the eight offenders would again utter 'Normal' African Gray vocalizations-- Amusing, if the vocabulary had switched in the reverse order! Another tale I have heard involved a murder case. The Gray had witnessed the killing of its human companion ('owner'). It imitated the voice and words spoken during the murder. The prosecution attempted to use the parrot as a witness, But because the parrot 'was an animal', The judge overruled the employment of the bird to nail the murderer! Of course you have heard of groups attempting To classify chimpanzees as sentient beings, Who would be treated on a human level. Perhaps someday, African Gray parrots Might be included within the human domain! (Chimps still are also on the waiting list.) Frank Maurer 27 January 2024 0925 Hours..