Mother And Calf Poem by Denis Martindale

When elephants walk so gently
Upon their chosen path,
Should Man forget the harmony
Shared by mother and calf?
Ignoring peace and joy and love,
Forsaking common good,
As if Man stands supreme above
Within this neighbourhood?

Has Man the right to separate,
For ivory and more,
Two happy hearts that celebrate
With feelings that outpour?
To steal away the light of day
That these blessed eyes have seen,
Like hunting's just a game to play
And nothing short of mean?

Endangered species bear the cost
When Man encroaches near,
When Man all self-control has lost
And life's no more held dear...
What's next, when all the hunting ends,
With elephants all dead?
Will Man build robot elephants
In future times ahead?


Denis Martindale, copyright, January 2015.


The poem is based on the magnificent wildlife
painting by Stephen Gayford nb Google-search
gayfordgallery and 'Stephen Gayford poetry'.