Elephant Poem

The skin on
the oldest
elephant’s
ankle has
been opened
by shackles
it must wear
day and night.

After it
steps out of
the river,
elephant’s
powerful
trunk takes up
the heavy
chain, places
it across
its shoulders;
the keeper
needs only
click the lock.

My son was
there and saw
this, several
months ago.
He says it
makes him sad,
thinking of
domestic
elephants
away in
Sri Lanka.

This son sees
what loads of
care we, too,
are cumbered
with, as we
have been taught
and have learned
so to be.