ELEPHANT HUNT !

As encountered this very morning

On Encountering An Elephant
Outside the Hunt Museum

After tea and crumble
And convivial discourse
I came out of the Hunt
Not to find a horse,
But an elephant no less
To greet me in the yard
Though gaudy and ceramic
Its hide felt really hard.

And its eyes were sad
And its head bent low
So affected was I
I found it hard to go
And leave this little fellow
An exhibit out of doors
No trees or rippling ponds
Or verdurous jungle floor.

Alone outside the Hunt
With rain swift on its way

I wonder is he dripping now

Neath skies of molten grey ?
And in time he’ll remember
This Limerick wind and wet
Cause as everybody knows
An elephant can’t forget.

Gerard O'Shea

Postscript - The elephant pictured above is apparently the Irish painted entry in the International Elephant Parade to take place this summer in London. The Cork born artist, Bill Griffin prefers fingers to brushes when it comes to expressing his artistic vision in paint. So now you know !