Gray like the
sky before rain,
the elephant sits
in the shade
of the late
afternoon. It has
dark brown eyes
that shine in
the sunlight. It’s
eyelashes are long
and laughing quickly.
Each laugh exposes
another wrinkle, another
scar of wisdom.
It has two
large gaping ears
and a small
tail that could
not possibly balance
a body so
insanely huge. Its
tusks are like
moonbeams or tight
strings of pearls
cut at sharp
edges. It observes
the world quietly
as it rests
in the shade

©Copyright R. McCarthy