Elephant Boy poems - from Vergil

This poem inspired by the Boy and the Elephant photo from the "Ashes and Snow" web site

My Children! Listen!
Listen to me now in silent stillness
Kneel together in peace and clear your minds
Remember when we were one
Remember when every child of mine
Understood me, respected me,
Loved me.

When the greatest and strongest
When the smallest and weakest
Knew the balance of my life

The balance of birth and death
Of winter and of summer
Of autumn and of spring
Of fire and of frost
Of ashes and snow
When we lived together
And knew how to love each other

My children! Listen!
Can you hear the cry of pain?
Can you feel the heat?
Can you see the melting ice
Can you smell the sharpness in the wind?
Can you tell I am dying?

My children! Listen!
Do you know who I am?
Can you come back to me
Kneel before each other
In humility

And understand you are all
My children
Help me live
I am your mother.

And this one is a quick little piece inspired by the same photo and written on the train trip into the city one morning

The Elephant

The elephant is a marvellous beast,
Compared to her we are the least.
We're told that she will not forget,
And that she lives without regret.
She seems so noble, and so true,
A tower of strength for me and you.
Let's honour what she represents,
Perhaps she is from heaven sent!