DEAR ABBY: You published a poem years ago that I clipped and enjoyed very much. It was a poem that compared the behavior of man and the apes, and was quite humorous. I think the title was "The Monkey's Disgrace." Would you put it in your column again, please? -- CHESAPEAKE, VA.
DEAR CHESAPEAKE: With pleasure. That poem last appeared in my column in 1987. It's one of my favorites.
THE MONKEY'S DISGRACE
Three monkeys sat in a coconut tree
Discussing things as they are said to be
Said one to the others, "Now listen, you two,
"There's a rumor around that can't be true
"That man descended from our noble race
"The very idea is a great disgrace.
"No monkey has ever deserted his wife
"Starved her babies and ruined her life
"And you've never known a mother monk
"To leave her babies with others to bunk
"Or pass from one on to another
"Till they scarcely knew who is their mother.
"Here's another thing a monkey won't do
"Go out at night and get on a stew
"Or use a gun or club or knife
"To take some other monkey's life
"Yes, man descended, the ornery cuss
"But, brother, he didn't descend from us."