Phibby Venable

Here is my brave elephant
She is trumpeting, triumphanting,
in the key of benediction
She is saddled with a stirruped soft cotton,
golden as sun flowers, with the amber eye
of the tiger, and small rubies glistening
Her ears have grown large with listening
Notes of ivory fill the air
Tonight she is eloquent with protection
She has witnessed the crumbling chalk
that gathers around my feet
in impressive powder
Elephant Girl, sing to me in the key of G
Stomp iron moccasins from your calloused feet
and save me from the white of the listless
Perhaps the drunken gods
will believe we are dancing