A Brother Far Away

Stomp Clomp Stomp Clomp
Marched the Family of elephants
As they trod the dusty distance
To the watering hole.

A brother far away
Hears the tink chink tink chink of steel  against steel
to announce the arrival of the Big Top to town

A tenderly nudge of a mother’s
Trunk gently directs her curious baby back on
Course.

Brother feels the pokes and prods of the steel
Tipped hook as it lashes out at him when he makes a
Misstep.

The chuckling of the hyenas and the
roaring of the lions nearby incite
The lead elephant to bellow a warning
to keep away.

Brother hears the hoots and hollers of the crowd
Behind the dark circus tent as the lion’s cage  lumbers by
with the great beast still asleep inside.

A west wind blows pushing through the plains , flowing over
The feather dusted clouds encasing the moon which hangs like a
Fluorescent white pearl over the watering hole.  

Brother dips his trunk into the bucket and
Comes up with the last drink to be offered that night as he
Strains at the shackles to get a glimpse at the moon.