Death of a Gorilla

I don’t know how a boy slipped down
And landed in a cage
Which housed a huge gorilla,
Prompting anger, grief and rage.

For when the ape then dragged the boy
The keepers at the zoo
Decided that a killing shot
Was what they had to do.

I’d hate to be the person
With that awful call to make,
But I understand the reason
With a human life at stake.

Yet, after all is said and done
I still can’t understand
Why there wasn’t anybody there
To hold that young boy’s hand.