I share this photo with deep love and reverence for gorillas everywhere.

Last week Bomassa–the beautiful baby boy gorilla in the photo above–celebrated his 1-year-birthday at the NC Zoo. I had the audacity to capture (perhaps steal) this moment between mother and child, last year, just about one week after Bomassa’s birth.

I wept for joy as I felt so very privileged to witness this sacred moment between a mother and child.

I wept in the irony of the moment, riveted by Jamani, Bomassa’s mama, caring and carrying her little newborn son in captivity before 30 breathtaken humans.

I wept for the juxtaposition of the moment: Me witnessing these sacred animals in just one moment of their daily life at the Zoo; one of many voyeurs the “free” side of a very thick and protective glass. A clear wall separating us yet uniting us in a mutual experience of the other.

I am grateful to Jamani for her presence in the zoo, despite the reality that living here was not her direct choice.

There is obviously much controversy around animals in captivity, but I feel grateful to these sacred beings for their presence. They captivate, intrigue and educate us. Captive gorillas impress upon our smaller human hearts.

I wish countless blessings upon these immense, powerful, wise and wordless beings. I wonder … What do they wish for?

♥becky♥