when I went to see the elephant
when I went to see the elephantwhen 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
-- 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
Poetry by Victor
Read 653 times
Written on 2015-05-28 at 03:13
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