The Elephant, by Paul Brookes

Elephants, photo by the author, Paul Brookes.

​

.The Elephant

Stumped at my English homework.
We'd read Edward Lear
and homework says write
an absurd poem.

I can't. I cry,
in front of Mam,

who writes one for me,
almost instantly,

and titles it:
"The Elephant With A Propeller For A Nose"

"The  elephant died and from his grave
Where would be a stone a propeller rose."

is all I can recall.

Now good friends buy us
this elephant and her calf.

I see dark wooden sculptures
of lions, giraffes and elephants

stare down at me from mahogany
sideboards below Clwydian hills

in Grandad's home.

Only later does Dad tell me
he was a merchant mariner
for his National Service.

In my memory home
I place the elephant and calf
on a coffee table.

Paul Brookes

Paul Brookes was shop assistant, security guard, postman, admin. Assistant, performer in poetry group "Rats for Love" and is included in their "Rats for Love: The Book" Bristol Broadsides, 1989. His first chapbook was "The Fabulous Invention Of Barnsley" by Dearne Community Arts, 1993. He has read his work on BBC Radio Bristol and had a creative writing workshop for sixth formers broadcast on BBC Radio Five Live.