Herbert

A silly little poem written with Oakland, CA in mind.

Herbert the Hippo lives in Oakland, CA

He makes his living checking on the water quality of the city

He has too many siblings to count, but he knows none of them

His parents met through an arranged marriage set up in the East Oakland hills

He wears only the freshest white tees and black jeans

When not working, he kicks it with the brothers on the border

He moves around on his black and chrome low-rider bike

His childhood memories are of being stuck in a pen in the hills and longing for the flatlands

He dreams of one day being skinny

And he vacations on the greens of the edge of Lake Merritt