The Elephant Is Slow To Mate

Read 'The Elephant Is Slow To Mate' by 'D. H. Lawrence' and provide your summary and literary analysis in the comments section below.

The Elephant Is Slow To Mate by D. H. Lawrence

 The elephant, the huge old beast,
 is slow to mate;
he finds a female, they show no haste
 they wait

for the sympathy in their vast shy hearts
 slowly, slowly to rouse
as they loiter along the river-beds
 and drink and browse

and dash in panic through the brake
 of forest with the herd,
and sleep in massive silence, and wake
 together, without a word.

So slowly the great hot elephant hearts
 grow full of desire,
and the great beasts mate in secret at last,
 hiding their fire.

Oldest they are and the wisest of beasts
 so they know at last
how to wait for the loneliest of feasts
 for the full repast.

They do not snatch, they do not tear;
 their massive blood
moves as the moon-tides, near, more near
 till they touch in flood.

Form: Free verse

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