genus: taphozous (fourteen species)
species: hamilton’s tomb bat (taphozous hamiltoni)
genus: taphozous (fourteen species)
the most deadly animal on earth for people is the mosquito.
and I eat thousands of mosquitos each and every night!
next time you are sitting sipping summer tea in your gazebo,
you may long for bats to rescue you and take away your plight.
we are happy to help!
another deadly animal for humans is the hippo.
sadly bats don’t hunger for the hippopotamus.
so when you take your boat out or decide to take a dip-o,
we couldn’t help you with that hulk, even if there were a lot of us.
you’ll have to save yourself!
species: hildegarde’s tomb bat (taphozous hildegardeae)
genus: taphozous (fourteen species)
this is a love story between my little harem and me.
it takes place in a kenyan cave by the indian sea.
there i declare abounding love. (times three.)
in sensual ceremony for the conferral
of my throat gland secretion on your apparel,
in our coastal love-cave of fossils and coral,
what expression of love could be more natural?
oh how much i adore you! (that’s you plural.)
this is a love story between my little harem and me.
it takes place in a kenyan cave by the indian sea.
our love fills the world most redolently.
i’ve a gland on my throat, near my beard, just under,
i rub my wings against it until i am covered,
and i press it on you so that no one will wonder
whether or not we belong to each other.
isn’t it romantic, my lover? (that’s lovers.)
this is a love story between my little harem and me.
it takes place in a kenyan cave by the indian sea.
no ritual conveys love more beautifully.
sometimes i think my throat gland is a cure-all.
this scent-marking is a bouquet for our nostrils,
painting with perfume a piquant air mural
declaring for all that my love is eternal.
how fervently i love you! (that’s you plural.)
this is a love story between my little harem and me.
it takes place in a kenyan cave by the indian sea.
i love you, darling (darlings), devotedly.
some show their commitment with rings on the finger.
or long soliloquies, if you’re an overthinker.
or he will find jewels and chocolates to bring her,
and dine her with steaks, and wine her with liquor,
but i prefer signature scents that will linger.
this is a love story between my little harem and me.
it takes place in a kenyan cave by the indian sea.
i love you my only paramour! (times three.)
species: mauritian tomb bat (taphozous mauritianus)
genus: taphozous (fourteen species)
mama mauritian tomb bat,
remember when i was young?
when i was a baby tomb bat,
and to your breast i clung?
mama mauritian tomb bat,
remember when i grew?
i learned to fly but didn’t want
to let go holding you.
mama mauritian tomb bat,
remember what you said?
“too big for my breast but you can
cling to my back instead.”
and so i climbed upon your back,
mauritian tomb bat mama.
you assured me i could stay that way
as long as i did wanna.
then one day i was ready
to venture off on my own.
oh mama mauritian tomb bat,
i am now on my own.
mauritian tomb bat mama
roosting in babalala…
i hope i see you again mama,
smiling in babalala.
thank you mauritian mama,
you were my magic carpet.
you kept me safe from trauma.
you were my soothing blanket.
thank you mauritian mama,
you gave of yourself in profusion.
nature did give me these wings,
but you taught me how to use them.
