Potato was an elephant

Potato was an elephant, he leapt from tree to tree;
he dipped his trunk in apple buds as though he were a bee.
He used his ears to sail 'cross the meadows - trees all 'round -
For he was loathe to think his feet should ever touch the ground.

He spent each night-time curled deep in crook, or bough, or beam,
And when he woke he'd use his snout to drink up from the stream.
He didn't stop to ponder why he was the size he was,
Nor felt a whit of consternation that he couldn't buzz.

His lily tusks were garlanded each sunrise with the dew,
And if they sprouted from your jaw, well, you'd be cross-eyed too!
Each noon a flock of meadowlarks would settle on his head,
They pecked and groomed the mighty thing, and rested, pinions spread.

For all his girth he'd never once caused harm to bird or mite;
He took the greatest care when leaping, climbing, and in flight.
He ate of honey, the freshest fruit (quite healthy, be assured),
And the grasses of his meadow were supremely manicured.

When scudding clouds and errant winds saw fit to make it pour,
Why, he'd close his eyes and dream a bit, and often dream some more.
His tail would twitch, his ears would flick, his lashes wet with rain,
His heavy lids would never lift til sun shone through again.

The hulking brute was much too large for poplar, birch, or pine -
He preferred an oak or baobab to take his ease and dine.
His vision could not penetrate the smaller groves, their gloom,
Spider-webbed with sticks and twigs - besides there wasn't room!

A shot rang out - a crack, a boom - though the sky was bright and clear;
Most all who heard that fearsome noise crouched quietly with fear.
But the elephant felt something bloom, he quaked like after birth;
And as he fell and crashed and stopped, Potato was of the Earth.

Comments

[Mark]

It takes a very special person to write something like that without being hopped up on drugs.

Is that one of yours? If so, what was your inspiration? A misspoken line from Dex?

[Tal]

Great poem - but sad. Poor Potato.

[rna]

Be obscure clearly.

EB White

[Moksha Gren]

Beautifully written, Simon. Is it just a sad tale of a particulalry odd elephant, or an origin story for potatoes?

[TerriTorial]

Very good.....though I'm a little bummed out over the ending. Good thing I didn't read it to the kids!

[Simon]

Mark, it is one of mine. I got to thinking about the characters on the second Ice Age movie, and specifically the mammoth who hangs out in trees and thinks she's a possum. And Dex has now taken to calling Tavish Mr. Potato-head, so I just ran with it.

Moksha, I never thought of it as an origin story for potatoes. (It would probably have to have been an Irish elephant for that, and now that's totally outside the realm of possibility!) When in doubt, take the 'odd' assumption with me. Always safest.

[Dave]

Holy moly.... that was outstanding if you wrote it yourself Simon!!!

[Linda]

You should write a children's book and let Amy stamp the illustrations.