S5 E18: The Elephant Child by D. Wallace Peach ©

An elephant child, carefree and wild

Walked into the wintry woods

He followed fox tails and jackrabbit trails

Ignoring his mother’s “shoulds”

Of course, he got lost and chilled by the frost

As night began to fall

To his rump he sunk and tooted his trunk

But no one answered his call

Oh, that cold night, to the elephant fright

The clouds began to snow

He sniffled and shivered, shook and quivered

His nose he needed to blow

The blizzard swirled and snowflakes twirled

He plodded on wobbly knees

His head grew stuffy, the snow so fluffy

He blew out a honking sneeze

Losing hope, he started to mope

When in an evergreen tree

He spied a house, just right for a mouse

And he let go a trumpet of glee

Alas the place hadn’t the space

To fit an elephant’s bulk

The lost little guy plunked down for a cry

His head hung low in a sulk

The house was quite nice, chock full of mice

Who whispered quiet and low

What was that? Did you hear a cat?

Lurking out in the snow?

Across the wood floor, they dashed to the door

Flicked on the outside light

In a rodent flurry, they squeaked and scurried

An elephant! What a sight!

Let’s offer a seat for a tea and a treat

Said a mouse who felt overly bold

I think he is lost so covered in frost

And surely his ears are cold.

Full of care and courage to spare

They crawled out on a limb

They slipped on the ice those brave little mice

And their mission turned quite grim

But they held on tight with all their might

And called to the elephant

Come in from the storm, come in and get warm

But the elephant said I can’t!

Though I’m only four, I’ll bust the door

I’ll break the branch from the tree

I’ll crack your stairs and squash your chairs

I’m far too heavy, you see.

You have to try, hurry in and dry

Get up! Please give it a go!

The elephant groaned, he mumbled and moaned

Though he longed to get out of the snow.

With strength galore, he pushed on the door

The tree branch started to bend

The home nearly fell, and the mice had to yell

Please stop, or we’re end-over-end!

The elephant frowned as the flakes tumbled down

His trunk a bright shade of blue

Oh, what a glitch, mice-whiskers did twitch.

What were the rodents to do?

Now, due to their size, mice aren’t very wise

Their brains are as tiny as seeds

They may not be smart, but they have lots of heart

And sometimes that’s all that you need.

They sketched out a plan as only mice can

And piled his back with sweaters

And blankets and sheets, and curtains with pleats

Tiny coats of wool and black leather

With the elephant warm, and safe from all harm

They dialed their old-fashioned phone

We’re seeking his mother, a father or brother!

This elephant’s all alone!

Well what do you know, because of the snow

His parents were suffering fits

They dashed to him fast and hugged him at last

And stayed for some tea and biscuits.

Thus ends the plight of the elephant’s night

Be careful when out in the woods

You might meet some mice who are caring and nice

But just in case…

Remember your mother’s shoulds

Poem by D. Wallace Peach

Recitation by D. Wallace Peach

Photography by Rebecca Budd

Music by Howard Harper-Barnes “A Leaf Falls” #EpidemicSound

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