when i went to see the elephant

when i went to see the elephant

when i went to see the elephant,

brown-grey elephant,

what did the elephant say?

of beetles and grasses we did converse

of leopards and lions,

giraffes gave us verse.

i asked the elephant,

“are you close to the earth?”

elephant looked

with a wise old glance,

one tear from its eye

dropped to dust

it moved a foot an inch.

when i went to see the elephant,

brown-grey elephant,

touched its long nose, quietly,

next to its wrinkled skin,

listened to its breathing

i heard

magic singing,

i asked the elephant, “are you close

to the earth?”

the elephant swayed from side to side

took a step, gave me a ride,

gently bent its knees and allowed

me to mount,

between its proud ears.

“earth,” spoke the elephant,

then the elephant was still,

not a word from its mouth was heard.

elephant went gliding

on effortless round feet,

with its eyes

showed me thickets and plains,

water and sky,

why the tear dropped from its eye.

“time was,” the elephant finally said,

“i could walk for years, from

morning to bed.  only tick birds

for company, ticks as well.

rain, wind, light, and sky were

new and free. 

now, my friend,

it is different, as well you see. 

from years gone by

i have walked and watched, listened

to changes on earth.

years gone by a

weary road,

good road, until recent

past when humans came for my

ivory beauty, liquid blackness from

under your feet and mine-

messages i hear from the ground.

why are you humans still around?

it was once so peaceful, before you

showed up, days were brilliant and

kind. 

long days, not a sound but birds,

crickets, new leaves growing, nest building,

birthing of new life everywhere.  now look,

human, look what is left--dust, my good sir,

dust; at least dust was once clean.”

i went to see the elephant,

brown-grey elephant,

sadness was all around.

forever gone, life it once knew,

buried in the ground.  once master,

master

of all it surveyed, numbered years

have passed,

in rain, wind and quiet,

always gentle, always kind,

elephant

thought it would last.

elephant now lives looking over

its shoulder,

for human usurpers

of peace--everywhere, they are

everywhere, turning the world to

grease.

“why,” asked the elephant, “do

humans act as they must?”

i had no answer,

all i could do was cry,

our tears mingled

in the dust.

vcp

2007