On a long busy noisy urban road,

Power lines and signs. A level railway crossing,

An iron fence. People pass it, intently oblivious.

Someone had been stuck in a room with a chimpanzee.

But walking past, he stops at the iron fence.

On the other side of its bars stands a man

In thick optical lenses and a white coat

On the lawn at the front of a big block-and-plaster building,

Red tile roof, bars on the windows, steps before the door.

“Hey,” says the man, “Give us a beer.”

Is this an example of a scientist’s burnout, this question

Posed to a stranger through the bars?

“I have a problem with a chimpanzee,” the passer-by replied.

A long stare from the man in optical lenses and white coat.

Then, “No you haven’t. Unless you think you are a chimpanzee.”

“No-one has helped me with it,” said the passer-by.

The scientist flinched. His blank expression changed

To one showing determination and judgement.

He picked a key from a pocket and opened the iron gate

In the fence. He pulled the passer-by in by the sleeve to

The compound. Then he faced him and said,

“Your problem is that you think you are a chimpanzee.”

Then he committed him.