The gorilla which failed in its attempted jail break in London last week, rather obliquely, reminded me that Swedes really do have a sense of humour. That is, the story brought to mind a line from (for me) the most memorable of Bob Dylan’s songs: The Lonesone Death of Hattie Carroll.
As you will recall, Carroll, a 51-year-old kitchen maid, is killed for no reason by a well-connected Maryland rich boy "At a Baltimore hotel society gathering". As the story of the accused's judicial experience is played out in the song, Dylan asks us to hold our emotions in check until the 6 month sentence is revealed. Then, he writes:
Oh, but you who philosophize disgrace and criticize all fears
Bury the rag deep in your face
For now's the time for your tears
Indeed. What bought (metaphorical it has to be said) tears to my eyes about the gorilla story was not the revelation that the animal was under stress (I just assume that happens every day), or that the open enclosure design had been criticised by gorilla behaviour experts (it's an enclosure, after all, and designed for people to see animals that prefer to be hidden from sight), or that some benighted youth had been taunting the animal (youth ...).
No. It was that, according to the Times, zoo staff said that:
"After being returned to his enclosure Kumbuka was given “extra special treats” including several chocolate chip muffins and will be given a day off from his diet."
Chocolate? Muffins? Diet? Tears ...
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