Home » Poems » Suzanne Delaney » Eye of a Captive Elephant

Eye of a Captive Elephant

I have looked into a zoo elephant's eye- I felt nothing pass between us How to describe, what seemed to be, an out of focus camera lens. I saw no flicker of response- it took the carrot from my hand The massive beast was trained- not tamed - his eye a small unpunctuated pool - strange in relation to its famed intelligence- it seemed as vacuous as a snake's That eye - a still point- in its rocking body showed puzzled disappointment ~ First Place~ ALL YOURS(Jun 5) Contest Judged: 6/5/2021 Sponsored by: Brian Strand

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Kim Merryman

Date: 6/7/2021 4:51:00 PM

A moving write, Suzanne! Congrats on your win in Brian's contest! Blessings, Kim M

Tom Cunningham

Date: 11/16/2020 4:53:00 AM

Well written Suz, a sad situation, in a zoo or wildlife park they have everything but freedom. Tom

Suzanne Delaney
Date: 11/17/2020 5:06:00 AM

Glad you enjoyed it Tom: enjoyed exploring this theme with you. SuZ

Richard Lamoureux

Date: 8/26/2019 8:58:00 AM

This is a sad one. So well expressed. I feel so bad for the animals in zoos.

Robert Lindley

Date: 8/23/2019 5:26:00 AM

Your poem captured the sadness the elephant must feel. As by nature they roam and to be in a pen must be pure torture . Great poetry my friend..

Geoffrey Brewer

Date: 8/5/2019 4:07:00 PM

Your acute and detailed observation, sharply described has a powerful effect in arousing curiosity and sympathetic interest, touching the emotions.

Craig Cornish

Date: 8/1/2019 7:12:00 AM

The true mind of a poet - inquisitive, and as you allude, usually in puzzled "disappointment", that word being used in a much more infinite way than most, but in a thoughtful way - always seeking, rarely finding.

Connie Marcum Wong

Date: 7/29/2019 1:13:00 PM

This is so sad SuZ. Elephants were born to travel which is impossible in a zoo. They are such compassionate creatures with great intelligence they deserve respect to be free. Your poem expresses their plight so wonderfully. xxoo

Suzanne Delaney
Date: 7/29/2019 6:41:00 PM

At least in a zoo they are safe from poachers but as you say not free to roam.....we can only pray they won’t be made extinct. Lovely to see you. SuZ.

Eric Ashford

Date: 7/28/2019 9:23:00 PM

I've seen that look in many captive beast eye's. Not trying to make a point between zoo's and not zoo's, it's just some are a lot better at stimulating their larger beasts, then others. This work captures (perhaps an unfortunate words to use in this context), something deeply disturbing about our interaction with nature. Excellent.

Suzanne Delaney
Date: 7/29/2019 5:50:00 AM

Thanks Eric: It is always fascinating and always the hope that if any good can come from being up close with these animals, it is that it will generate the desire to preserve them at any cost.

Nette Onclaud

Date: 7/27/2019 6:52:00 PM

i treasure your sense of empathy and ability to write poetry with such elan, suZ... free our animals... huggs

Suzanne Delaney
Date: 7/29/2019 5:54:00 AM

Thanks Nette: Always So happy to see your sweet face here. Hugzz, SuZ

Vijay Pandit

Date: 7/25/2019 8:06:00 AM

Your poem raises awareness..wish we knew the inner thoughts that reflected in elephant's eyes. A powerful depiction, SuZ.

Suzanne Delaney
Date: 7/29/2019 5:52:00 AM

Thanks Vijay: That is my hope for this poem. Thanks for your welcome visits, always. SuZ

Lindsay Laurie

Date: 7/25/2019 1:43:00 AM

G'day Suzanne ... I feel the sadness in your verse. Like more and more people, I only want to see animals either in the wild or at the very least an area not resembling a cage. Thank you Suzanne - Lindsay

Suzanne Delaney
Date: 7/25/2019 6:13:00 AM

Yes Lindsay: Technology is such now, they could have animals on display in a virtual interactive display and let the real animals free. I wrote another on this subject called, ‘Freedom Remembered.’ Thanks for visiting today. SuZ