ABOUT ELEPHANTS

The party of America First claims the elephant

as its emblem. But elephants are not

native to America (aka the USA).

They live in Asia and Africa.

A Bronx Zoo exhibit was called the African Plains.

But there are no African Plains in America.

Only in East Africa, where matriarch elephants lead

their herds to graze on savannah grasses,

nourish them in countries an America First

leader called “shithole nations.”

The elephants’ feet pound terra firma.

Never sink into holes, never lose direction.

Elephants never forget.

Do people ever remember?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR | Michelle M. Tokarczyk has published three books of poetry: The House I’m Running From, Bronx Migrations and, most recently, Galapagos: Islas Encantadas. Her poetry has also appeared in many journals and anthologies, including Third Wednesday, Unearthed, Masque & Spectacle, and For a Living: The Poetry of Work. She is a professor emerita of English at Goucher College. Tokarczyk was born and raised in New York City and has, for many years, been a Chelsea resident. To visit her website, click here: mmtokarczyk.com. Bronx Migrations can be purchased from Cherry Castle Publishing, by clicking here. Galapagos: Islas Encantadas can be purchased at Bookshop.org or Amazon.com or from Shanti Arts Publishing.

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