Barking Gecko
by Eithne Cullen
The sign tells us we’ll see
the Barking Gecko, well,
I can tell you I’ve never seen
the Barking Gecko, coming in
from Gospel Oak or on the tube
from Mile End, anyway.
The sign says I will recognise
it by its vivid colour—green—
with markings on its back,
well I’ve never seen one with
white, yellow or pale green
on it anywhere at all.
The sign says I might even
spot its bright blue mouth
when it yawns, but I’ve not seen
that or anything like it
in the parks or gardens,
and certainly not round
the library or Town Hall.
The sign says it’s a super
special reptile, can’t argue
with that. But I tell you,
I’ve not seen one though
I’ve had a look around.
Might as well go to New Zealand,
I think that’s where they’re found.
Copyright Eithne Cullen 2020
Image credit: “Barking Gecko” by Will Brown (CC BY 2.0)
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The sign says I will recognise
it by its vivid colour—green—
with markings on its back,
well I’ve never seen one with
white, yellow or pale green
on it anywhere at all.
