When I was a young boy,
I wanted a pet badly,
but as my parents would have it,
no animals would be allowed inside my house.
One day I went to the pet shop,
with my uncle who was not so strict,
and bought a Chameleon,
to keep as a sweet little pet.
I kept him hidden inside a small box,
poked with holes,
I fed him worms and other little animals,
I could find in my bountiful garden.
I fell in love with my pet.
with his protruding eyes,
his mischievous ways,
and his reptilian tail.
Every time I opened the box,
I would have to look all around,
for my wonderful pet,
was a master at the art of disguise.
He would take on the colour,
of the insides of the box.
He would suddenly dart out of a corner,
the minute I released his worm.
As luck would have it,
one fine morning when I was feeding him,
he suddenly jumped out,
and made his dash for freedom.
I closed the box with tears in my eyes.
I was heartbroken for days.
It was as if I had lost,
my only friend in the world.
Then an idea struck me,
and that night I left the box open.
The next day morning when I dropped a worm into the box,
my pet jumped out of a corner and grabbed his prize.
Now my pet Chameleon and I are in the best of terms.
I no longer keep him imprisoned,
in a box full of holes.
He comes and goes as he pleases and we are the best of friends.
The pet that’s free to come and go is better than the one on chains. Liked it.
Thanks Tom. Glad you liked it.
true 😉
Pets with freedom are the best kind to have. Love the poem. 🙂
Thanks Srivalli
Lovely creatures they are… But some people behaves like their ancestors are Chameleons 😉
Very true Jose.
Loved it. What a beautiful poem.
Thanks Sonia
Wow a chameleon for a pet- that’s quite unique! I’m glad you let him come and go as he pleases!
Thanks Noor. Glad you liked the poem.
That’s awesome. I liked the turnaround which came in the end- loved the way you made friends with your pet.
Nice take for C
Thank you so much. Glad you liked the poem.
Good that you don’t keep it chained. Loved your poem.
Thank you so much. Glad you enjoyed the poem.
I am jealous of you Jai. You have a chameleon as a pet! Amazing. I wish to see a chameleon in real life someday, one day.
I loved the little anecdote with a subtle message in this post as well.
Thanks Anagha. Chameleons are pretty common as pets for many children. And they are really charming creatures. Glad you enjoyed the poem.
The title intrigued me. On a literal level, the poem is beautiful. Metaphorically, well, that has to be a special relationship between the pet and its keeper, no?
Beautiful poem.
Best wishes for the rest of the A2Z.
Thank you Ajit. Glad you enjoyed the poem.
Very earnest words, Jai. Makes the poem feel a bit more special.
Thanks for visiting Varad
What an unusual pet, but the relationship looks deep and grounded. the rules of not chains and bounds are something I really am fond of. Lovely.
Thànks for visiting Dipika. Glad you enjoyed the poem.
I am loving your poems . Having a pet not in cage is the best . Congratulations for being enlisted in top 100 blogs .
Thank you so much Monika. That listing in the top 100 came as a surprise. Glad you enjoyed the poem.