Poems about Elephants

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Themes: Religion, Spirituality

Emotions: Amusement, Confusion, Faith

Topics:

Elephants

Adulthood, Allusion, Animals, Childhood, Growing Up, History, Mythology

Form: Free Verse

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What Happened to the Elephant?

by Sujata Bhatt

‘What Happened to the Elephant?’ by Sujata Bhatt is inspired by Hindu beliefs. Specifically, she focuses on ideas of reincarnation and a child’s curiosity in it.

Bhatt's poem goes in to great detail when it comes to the exact process by which Ganesh gained the head of an elephant. Bordering on the comical at times, the poem goes on to speculate about how the rest of the elephant's herd would have reacted to the sight of a decapitated elephant. Despite its playfulness, the poem engages with deeper themes such as grief and the possibility of reincarnation, all told through the lens of elephants.

What happened to the elephant

the one whose head Shiva stole

to bring his son Ganesh

back to life?

Holding Hands

‘Holding Hands’ by Lenore M. Link is a light-hearted children’s poem that describes the way elephants “hold hands.” They link tails and spend their days in one another’s company.

Link's 'Holding Hands' focuses on the tactile behaviour of animals including humans and elephants, likening the habit of hand holding to the manner in which elephants link tails with one another. The result is to present elephants as deeply affectionate and loyal animals, even though the poet imposes certain human characteristics and thought processes onto the animals which they may not really possess.

Elephants walking

Along the trails

Are holding hands

By holding tails.

At The Zoo

In ‘At The Zoo,’ A. A. Milne narrates a trip to the zoo through a child’s eyes. The speaker’s fantastical and mixed-up descriptions of various animals are the source of much amusement.

This poem depicts the speaker's favorite animal as the elephant. He receives the honor of getting buns from the protagonist, who, for some unexplained reason, is most pleased with the elephant above all other animals.

There are lions and roaring tigers,

and enormous camels and things,

There are biffalo-buffalo-bisons,

and a great big bear with wings.

Horton Hatches The Egg

Published in 1940, ‘Horton Hatches the Egg’ is one of Dr. Seuss’s earlier works, featuring Horton the Elephant’s unwavering commitment to hatching a bird’s egg.

The elephant, Horton, features very prominently in this poem, sitting patiently on the egg of a bird until it hatches. The fact the poem was written for children is apparent as its events are scientifically impossible. Ultimately, the poem is less interested in depicting the real experience of elephants than it is in teaching children important lessons about care, devotion and the power of love.

Sighed Mayzie, a lazy bird hatching an egg:

“I’m tired and I’m bored

And I’ve kinks in my leg

From sitting, just sitting here day after day.

Eletelephony

‘Eletelephony’ by Richards humorously narrates an elephant’s tangle with a telephone, delighting in wordplay and whimsical imagery.

Richards' poem is more preoccupied with the term 'elephants' than by the animals it refers to. The poem's playful approach includes several moments in which the elephant is anthropomorphised, notably when it attempts to use an telephone.

Once there was an elephant,

Who tried to use the telephant—

No! No! I mean an elephone

Who tried to use the telephone—

5 Must-Read Elephant Poems

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5 Must-Read Elephant Poems

What Happened to the Elephant?

by Sujata Bhatt

Holding Hands

by Lenore M. Link

At The Zoo

by A. A. Milne

Horton Hatches The Egg

by Dr. Seuss

Eletelephony

by Laura Elizabeth Richards

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