by Ellen Cammaratto
Pomi the camel lived in a zoo
And never did what camels could do.
He dreamed of deserts in foreign lands
And green oases amid buring sands.
His ancestors wore diamonds, gold and jewels
And carried the guards of the great shiek Abdul.
Some others were known for their speed and strength
And won camel races wherever they went.
A huge caravan was where he should be
Carrying his owner through Iran or Turkey
Not locked behind bars or in pens made by man
But free to roam over dunes made of sand.
Not laughed at for spitting or for the hump he wore
But really well loved for the burdens he bore.
Appreciated for being a helper of man
Who live in these changing and waterless lands.