A Light in the Forest

A girl with a doll, named Jubilee,
Dreamed of the jungle, wild and free,
To Africa’s shore, her spirit took wing,
With no fancy credentials, but wonder to bring.
She walked into Gombe, where shadows descend,
A novice observer, a steadfast friend.

She sat in the silence, beneath the green shade,
A bond with the primates was silently made.
She gave them the names of the people she knew,
For their complex emotions, she knew to be true.
There was Flo and Fifi, their struggles and joys,
More than just numbers or simple decoys.

Then came the moment, the knowledge so profound,
When David Greybeard scraped sticks along the ground.
He stripped off the leaves, with a careful touch,
A tool used by chimps, who could do so much.
The line was dissolved, the barrier was gone,
The kinship of species from that day was drawn.

From student to scientist, her fame quickly grew,
With patience and kindness, her insights broke through.
She showed us that chimps knew both war and delight,
That love and compassion were also their right.

But the forest was fading, the crisis was clear,
The whispers of loss began filling her ear.
She left Gombe’s deep green for the wide, dusty roads,
To lighten the weight of the planet’s hard loads.
For humans to flourish, the wild must endure,
Her mission expanded, becoming so pure.

The Jane Goodall Institute and Roots & Shoots,
Planted the promise in young, vibrant roots.
She gave the great apes a voice, loud and strong,
And showed us exactly where we all belong.
Not above the wild creatures, but right by their side,
She was a Guardian of the Jungle, our tireless guide.

Now the green forests re-echo her songs,
A gentle, strong melody where she belongs.
Her loving spirit walks where the wild heart will call,
Her timeless light shines brightly within us all.