Romeo & Juliet
February 14, 2009
Romeo belonged to the troop of the Temple Monkeys. And Juliet belonged to the troop of the Market Monkeys.
Between the Temple and Market troops, there existed an ancient grudge which declared them bitter enemies stretching back years in primate society.
But Romeo and Juliet loved each other. From across the road which separated the two troops, they would look out for the other’s presence and exchanged looks of affection, a secret shared and fiercely guarded by two seemingly opposite and mutually exclusive ends of the world; the road which separated them was also the road which brought them together, which conjoined their fates. And all these… unknown to the rest of them.
A long time passed. The little sufficient that they had, had become insufficient; it was no longer enough. They needed more, it was overwhelming, it felt almost they had to be drawn together, to come together. No more holding back, no more.
That night, Romeo grabbed Juliet’s hand, from across the Market territory to the road back to the Temple territory they ran. On the temple rooftop, under the night sky, oblivious to everything else around them, they frolicked and played. This was what they had been dreaming of; this, they knew, was all they ever wanted. Happiness and bliss never felt so simple, so alive.
The following day, War broke out. They had been found out. Years of unspoken rule and pact between the two troops had been transgressed. The Market Monkey had trespassed into the territory of the Temple Monkey, and vice versa. The entire troop of temple monkeys raged war against the market monkeys. In the marketplace, all hell broke loose and there was chaos. What ensued was violence, bloodshed, victims, casualties aplenty… They called it the Monkey War; and in its aftermath, there was once again peace, a solemn peace; both troops were left to lick their wounds, to grieve over their loses.
Romeo, the Trouble-maker, they called him. There was no more place for him; he no longer belonged to the family; he had to leave. A forlorn monkey, head down, heart emptied, he left for the railway station. Boarded the train, to seek a new place, forever it seems. For one last time, he turned his head back in the direction where Juliet was sobbing back in the marketplace. He knew in his heart, that night they spent together would be kept with him forever, wherever he were to be.
The primate society had descended into chaos. Hatred, anger, injury, disease, drought. Juliet still pined for Romeo. She waited for him down at the railway track, awaiting his return every single day:
“Wherefore art thou, Romeo?”
“Had it all just been a dream?”
Romeo had left for another world. Away from the city monkeys. Away. In the wild. Juliet knew in her heart.
Life went on. Babies still played. Mothers still bickered. The guards still fell asleep while on duty. As the days went by, Juliet was no longer content to wait for love:
“If Romeo wasn’t going to come to Juliet, maybe Juliet would have to go to Romeo.”
It was the day of the Festival for Monkeys. Humans brought food and drinks to the temple for the monkeys; it was to bring peace to the land of the primates. Market Monkeys entered the temple. They put all their differences aside and feasted.
It was said that amidst the festivities, Juliet had stolen away. On a pick-up truck. Hitched a ride. On her way…
And with the determination of their love, I’m sure they were reunited. They must have found happiness in a faraway land.
Something tells me, they won’t be the last of us to be made fools by love…
Courtesy of and Adaptation from the documentary programme Animal Planet.
Many beautiful & cruel love stories heard, its always come close to feel different when two persons are together.
Love is always unexpected & full of surprises!
Be it happy or sad…Sounds right in this post! Lifes goes on =)
Dear Elvin,
Happy Valentines!
i’m the one whom u celebrate our bday before @ east wing, lvl 2 =)
Its been awhile that I haven met u
Hope to see u soon, be well!
“Wherefore art thou, Romeo?”
“Had it all just been a dream?”
MONKEYS?!
Hey, Elvin gege! Happy Valentine’s day! I am glad to be the 1st to reply, haha!
Oh, by the way, you mean the Romeo and Juliet you are talking about are really MONKEYS?
However, it is a touching story.
“There was no more place for him; he no longer belonged to the family; he had to leave.”
It is a very sad situation. I wonder what I would do if I am in it.
“If Romeo wasn’t going to come to Juliet, maybe Juliet would have to go to Romeo.”
Sad… Sad… What can we do? Juliet was a woman, a female monkey, living in a CONSERVATIVE society and school of monkeys… Even Romeo is despised from his troop bcz of his act, his love to her.
However let us put this aside. Very happy to see you again.
I hope you will always in the pink of health.
Best regards,
rakuten aka Yongle
Follow Through
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AN_grtx8rPw
wow ur entries are profound! but nicely written =)
That’s “Romeo & Juliet, A Monkey’s Tale”!
I simply adore this docu-movie. Brilliant perspective (and narration) of a real-life love story with a tragical shakespeare undertone. I love it love it love it! Hahahaha :D
The day’s over but nonetheless, Happy Valentine’s Day.
:)
A v touching n sweet story.
I’m sure they r united too.
Happily ever after. :)
Happy valentines day to u!
I love the part when Juliet no longer contented to wait for love and… “If Romeo wasn’t going to come to Juliet, maybe Juliet would have to go to Romeo.”
The determination of this love touches me. Felt abit emotional after reading this. However, will there be one out there who will be like Juliet or perhaps vice versa? What happen if one did not meet another until the day of death? Will all this be consider fated or will one still be contented to see each other at the moment of death?
Just felt to ask as questions just pop into me after reading. Good endings are what we always hope for or perhaps wanted however not all time one will able to achieve it regardless of determination. Sometimes, it really depends i guess..
Anyway, thanks for sharing.
Happy Valentines’ & Friendship Day. =)
you actually wrote this based on a documentary? oh my god, that was brillant! a english literature graduate indeed.
A very very touching story.
Because of ancient grudge, they couldn’t openly declared their love for each other and be together. However, deep in their heart, they know there’s a place for each other.
When love grow more and more each day, just seeing each other from a distance is no longer enough for them. They want more. And i believed the urge of being together is even more stronger and when Romeo grabbed Juliet’s hand, from across the Market territory to the road back to the Temple territory, they must have determined to fight for their love.
I believe after so much obstacles, their love is strong and firm and they will be together happily in a place where no one will stop them from loving each other anymore.
“It was said that amidst the festivities, Juliet had stolen away. On a pick-up truck. Hitched a ride. On her way…”
It must be Romeo who have been thinking of ways to reunite with Juliet and finally he decided to take her away during one of the festivities. =)
it’s sweet. but not many people are willing to wait endlessly for their love. and not everyone who wait will get their happy ending.
Every Romeo will find his Juliet someday. and likewise, so….if only every one takes time and opens his/her heart. Deeply in love is one thing, being together is another, staying committed forever is another. True Love transcends all. What is meant to be, will be. Else, move on …cos the best may come ‘later’ esp when the affinity comes.
it’s funny to imagine Romeo & Juliet as primates, but what can you expect from Animal Planet? lol
HAHAHA..monkeys. Like how the petrol station feud scene was in the Baz Luhrmann version of Romeo and Juliet. Hilarious fight.
I’m reading Romeo and Juliet for class. Amazing how they “fall in love” in 2 pages that can last throughout the other 4 acts.
Power of the cupid’s arrow. From the depth of their love, Juliet wouldn’t be happy to remarry by force of the Capulet family, and still secretly wait for Romeo. Of course, death do they reunite in the end.
romantic and beautiful, forbidden love ,
as expected from this blog ,
not every love can have a happy ending , but at least one has once loved ,
Dont be afraid to fall in love because it might hurt , ;D
Happy Valentine’s day , elvin (:
elvin:) Really love to read your entries:D And I love the way u write!
Not forgetting,
Happy belated valentines! :):)
Update us a little on yourself, Elvin! :)
Yo~!
U finally know how to insert photos~!!
Claps Claps~!!! =DDDDD
Anyway, cute doggies u got~!! =DDDDD
Momo nono is love~! =DDDD
happy belated valentines! =)=)
虽然并不是每个人都会在爱情里得到完美结局，但只要已
经尽了力，就没有什么好遗憾了。。。
happy belated valentines! =)=)
虽然不是每个人都会在爱情里有完美的结局，但只要已经尽力，就没有什么好遗憾了。。。
sorry,I have post it again…….
your dogs are super cute!!! wanna give me? :D
Love knows no boundaries. So long as you’re deeply in love with one, you’ll go all out to pursue don’t you? (: CHEERS!
:D
All the very best to your career and not forgetting, your love life!
omg is that your dogs , SO CUTE !
yoohoo!
Lovely photos u got!~
I love those u took in Aust!
Cute doggies too!!~ =DDD
“If Romeo wasn’t going to come to Juliet, maybe Juliet would have to go to Romeo.”
Somewhere in her heart, and certainly in the dark depths of her logic, Juliet knew that it’d not work out between them. Perhaps she’d find Romeo waiting for her in a new home, perhaps Romeo would already have someone new waiting for him to come home, in his new home.
Perhaps. Perhaps. Perhaps.
But she will not give up, for she wants to know that at least she’d tried.
=)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjO6CHmd-bg
Check yes juliet
are you with me
rain is falling down on the sidewalk
i won’t go until you come outside
check yes juliet
kill the limbo
i’ll keep tossing rocks at your window
cause there’s no turning back for us tonight
lace up your shoes
A O A O ah
here’s how we do
run baby run
don’t ever look back
they’ll tear us apart
if you give them the chance
don’t sell your heart
don’t say we’re not meant to be
run baby run
forever will be
you and me
check yes juliet
i’ll be waiting
wishing, wanting
yours for the taking
just sneak out
and don’t tell a soul goodbye
check yes juliet
here’s the countdown
3…2…1… now fall in my arms
now they can change the locks
don’t let them change your mind
lace up your shoes
A O A O ah
here’s how we do
run baby run
don’t ever look back
they’ll tear us apart
if you give them the chance
don’t sell your heart
don’t say we’re not meant to be
run baby run
forever will be
you and me
we’re flying through the night
flying through the night
way up high,
the view from here is getting better with
you by myside
run baby run
don’t ever look back
they’ll tear us apart
if you give them the chance
don’t sell your heart
don’t say we’re not meant to be
run baby run
don’t ever look back
they’ll tear us apart
if you give them the chance
don’t sell your heart
don’t say we’re not meant to be
run baby run forever will be you and me
definitely won’t be the last of us to be made fools by love…till death do us part.
death, in many classic tragedies, is the only way to complete a kind of consummation of their love. however, in modern films like ‘in the mood for love’ , death was being replace by regrets, decisions in life.
Simple and nice ;): “Romeo & Juliet”. Added you to my feed reader This has been a great read and a help; especially in the current economic climate ~ho trains
Hi, good post. I have been pondering this issue,so thanks for writing. I will certainly be coming back to your site.