The Indian elephant
I knew of an Indian elephant who worked at a circus
on an act where unhappy animals sit up and beg
and sad clowns who know they are pathetic dance
one day, the elephant stopped the act, addressed
the public
why is it that the rich pay no tax but have a choice
of food to eat and do not help the poor
out of poverty
I, he said, pointing at himself, get paid green bananas
and stale bread. not good for my digestion
I blame the capitalist system,
When the authorities heard of this, they asked if
he had a working permit, but the circus owner didn't
want any problems, so the elephant
was fired
The obedient press told lies about him, an angry
the mob chased him out of town.
He took up living between two carob trees and
since no one expected to see an elephant there
no one saw him.
My best friend, a dissolute labor leader, and I
often sit on the elephant's back and play poker
the ex-labor leader knows how to negotiate
wins, the elephant is happy he is free,
eats yellow bananas and snacks on olive leaves.
Categories:
indian elephant, age, animal, celebration, innocence,
Form: Blank verse
There's an eatery here in my hometown I'd heard about,
That features exotic wild animal fare so I thought I'd check it out!
I perused the menu and here are a few examples of its bizarre cuisine:
Slow-broiled and marinated Indian elephant spleen;
Delectable bar-be-qued Texas style rib of rattlesnake;
Tender sixteen-ounce portions of grilled hippopotamus steak;
Choice butterflied pork tender-loin from corn-fed por(k)cupine;
Wild Arkansas boars' feet boiled and pickled in spicy brine;
Fresh flown-in daily from Alaska, deep-fried buzzards' gizzards;
Finely sliced sauteed tongue of Komodo Dragon lizards!
I decided to order an enticing delicacy that really caught my eye;
'Twas a dish called Braised Himalayan Rabbit that I thought I'd try!
I asked the server about its origin and its preparation mode.
"First" said she, "we find him-a-layin' on the road!"
(At that I stifled a roiling barf and from there I quickly strode!)
Categories:
indian elephant, food, humorous,
Form: Rhyme
Indian Elephant
I know of an Indian elephant that is small for it type, but very sharp.
It worked in a circus one day it sat down and lectured the public
those who came here to laugh at animals and sad clowns.
It spoke of the injustice, why the rich pay no tax to help the poor.
The authorities didn't like this, and it was asked if it had a working permit,
the circus owner not wanting problems fired the little elephant that was
chased out of town by an angry mob that had read bad things about him in
the gutter press that in the name of democracy were allowed to print lies.
It took up living between two carob trees,
and since no one expects to see an elephant here, they didn`t see it.
I`m an exile cannot go home to my country up North because there
I would live in penury.
My best friend was a communist leader has a small pension like mine,
we often sit on top of the elephant play cards and he always wins.
This I think it is because I`m a drawing room socialist and can easily be
swayed to lean right if they give me a bigger pension.
Categories:
indian elephant, beauty, memory, mystery,
Form: Blank verse