Umbrella Panda: A Species

Ping Pei, a plump panda,

ponders legends

of this duty—

protector

of all the

living things

he’s heard

babbling

through

the bamboo

and wonders

what is an umbrella

is it a shield

for him to wield

should he be the shield

he’s plump

but

can he cover

flora and fauna—

he chomps

to guard the green.

he is happy

he needs no

sword to carry.