The Elephant Poem by Somanathan Iyer

Big, enormous and majestic you are
Oh! Elephant! a giant on earth you are
in the wild you are a terror
when tamed you are a soldier
intelligence is your forte
industrious is your nature
social life so rare in animals
among your groups exhibited so nicely
a herbivorous you are! Yet with a mammoth size
proving the world strength needs no food of meat
the God who is always worshiped first
grace the world with your head proving He is the best
might of the kings in quest of their conquests
banked heavily on your convoy in their march
king of the jungle take to his heels
paving you the way in woods and forests
with humans you share an unflinching bonds
serving their needs in invincible forms
loyalty you reward for love
punishment you award for cruelty!