I could do without baobob trees

I’m pretty sure that the baobob tree at the Philadelphia zoo is fake and

I’m OK with that as

Long as the fake one is at the zoo and

Not in my backyard

A real baobob tree in my backyard

Would be like a dream come true

Now I’m not sure if it would be my dream but

I can certainly picture myself underneath it

Sitting criss-cross applesauce

Wearing something white and billowy and

Watching goats and kids straggle by in the dusty heat

As I wait for others to gather

So that we can socialize

Chew on something tropical and/or

Messy

Like a mango or ugali and

Make important decisions affecting us all

Democratically and

In good humor

Then

Whistling something other than I’m Walking on Sunshine but

Similarly intentioned

I would head home to my multi-generational household and

That’s all I’ve got

That’s as far as I can get

Because the baobob tree is in Philadelphia

About thirty minutes away and

People don’t live with wild animals anymore

At least not very often or

In zoos and

Anyway

There won’t be any smiles

Mangos

Sunshine or

Even ugali underneath it

Regardless of where it is

Even if it is in your backyard

Blocking the light from your flowerbeds and

Hovering threateningly over your house

Very fake yet

Very very real