Well knock me over with a blade of hay,
the strangest thing occurred today.
I 'wakened to trumpets sadly blown,
from where they came, it wasn't known.
Was there a band passing near
louder and louder, sounding queer?
knock knock knock upon my door,
I peeked through my window,and there I saw
out where my garden used to be,
weeping elephants wailing at me.
Tears were streaming from their eyes
and it bruised my heart to hear their cries.
I opened the door,
and in flung - a trunk
which sprinkled bouquets at my feet in a hunk!
I moved them aside and patted his ear,
then said (very calmly,) 'You can't fit in here,
Take a step and backward walk,
I'll come too so we can talk.'
And as he did, I went outside,
to face the pachyderms, (that cried.)
Pools (made from their footprints,)
were everywhere I gazed,
surprisingly, I didn't care,
I stood, stunned and amazed.
Surrounding me, they held out gifts,
each trunk was like an arm,
I took each one
with joyous fun,
I felt no threat of harm.

' Forgive us,' they pleaded,
'We bent and stampeded,
and ruined the buds you adored.
We know what to do,
and we'll work 'til it's through,
amends we will make. Be assured.'
Well, I breathed deeply in,
I nodded my chin,
then back to my cottage went I.
I stayed there all day,
'til their trumpets trumped gay,
with a tune SO enchantingly wry.
I opened the door...
what splendour I saw,
before me – a rainbow of hue!
Besprinkled with flora,
no garden 'befora'
could ever compare with the view!
With their shovels and hoe
in their trunks they bowed low
then politely one said:
'It's for you.'
Then the twink’ in each eye,
seemed so proud, yet so shy
that affection filled me right through.
Was it NOT yesterday
that I heard myself pray:
'Please keep THEM out of my life.'
Shall I ever forget?
I have learnt (with regret,)
that not all stampedes are intended,
and,where elephants go,
we will CERTAINLY know
from their footprints
and the hearts they've befriended.