Elephants are the only mammals that can’t jump

I wonder what they do when they’re frightened.

The apocalypse is nearing.
Will they join arms and pray for a future?
They have no arms to join.

We will scream, “CHEERS TO THE LIFE WE’VE LIVED!”
Lift our glasses up high,
and never once think of the elephants.

And the elephants will lift their noses to the sky,
toot trumpets in harmony,
and lift all four legs off the ground at once.

The world will cave in,
our drinks will spill,
and the elephants will have a hearty laugh.
 
 
 
 
…as published in The Collage, 2010.