White and Black Rhinos

[deckardcanine]

The white and black rhinos are much the same color.
Their names are alleged to have come
From faulty translation of wyd, Afrikaans
Word for wide, tho it sounds rather dumb.

The best way to tell them apart is to look
At the mouth, for the “white’s” lips are broad
And flat with strong muscles for grazing; the “black’s”
Lips are hook-shaped for branch eating (odd).

The white rhino’s body is shaped like a barrel
And long, not compact like the black.
The white has a hump on the nape of its neck,
While the black has more arch in its back.

The white’s head is apt to stay low to the ground.
Its long ears help make up for its vision.
The black’s ears are smaller and rounder; its eyeballs
Enable more optic precision.

They both have two horns, but the black’s are more even.
The white has a long one up front.
The black’s territorial, often aggressive.
The white’s more inclined just to grunt.

The white is endangered; the black’s even more so.
In large part, the blame is on poaching.
I’m glad that I got to see both on safari
While hopefully not too encroaching.