Birds and flowers and other country things :: :: University of Virginia Library

Elephant, thou sure must be
Of the Titan progeny;
One of that old race that sleep,
In the fossil mountains deep!
Elephant, thou must be one!—
Kindred to the Mastodon,—
One that didst in friendship mix
With the huge Megalonix;
With the Mammoth hadst command
O'er the old-world forest-land.
Thou, those giant ferns didst see,
Taller than the tallest tree;
And with up-turned trunk didst browse,
On the reed-palms' lowest boughs;

141

And didst see, upcurled from light,
The ever-sleeping ammonite;
And those dragon-worms at play
In the waters old and grey!

Tell me, creature, in what place,
Thou, the Noah of thy race,
Wast preserved when death was sent
Like a raging element,
Like a whirlwind passing by,—
In the twinkling of an eye,
Leaving mother earth forlorn
Of her mighty eldest-born;—
Turning all her life to stone
With one universal groan!
In what cavern drear and dark,
Elephant hadst thou thine ark?
Dost thou in thy memory hold
Record of that tale untold?
If thou do, I pray thee tell,
It were worth the knowing well.

Elephant, so old and vast,
Thou a kindly nature hast;

142

Grave thou art, and strangely wise,
With observant, serious eyes,
Somewhat in thy brain must be
Of an old sagacity.
Thou art solemn, wise and good;
Thou liv'st not on streaming blood;
Thou, and all thine ancient frere,
Were of natures unsevere;
Preying not on one another;
Nourished by the general mother
Who gave forests thick and tall,
Food and shelter for you all.

Elephant if thou hadst been
Like the tiger fierce and keen,
Like the lion of the brake,
Or the deadly rattle-snake,
Ravenous as thou art strong,
Terror would to thee belong;
And before thy mates and thee,
All the earth would desert be!
But instead, thou yield'st thy will,
Tractable, and peaceful still;

143

Full of good intent, and mild
As a humble little child;
Serving with obedience true,
Aiding, loving, mourning too;
For each noble sentiment
In thy good, great heart is blent!