Pansies (Lawrence)/Two Performing Elephants

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TWO PERFORMING ELEPHANTS
He stands with his forefeet on the drumand the other, the old one, the pallid hoary femalemust creep her great bulk beneath the bridge of him.
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On her knees, in utmost cautionall agog, and curling up her trunkshe edges through without upsetting him.Triumph! the ancient, pig-tailed monster!
When her trick is to climb over himwith what shadow-like slow carefulnessshe skims him, sensitiveas shadows from the ages gone and perishedin touching him, and planting her round feet.
While the wispy, modern children, half-afraidwatch silent. The looming of the hoary, far-gone agesis too much for them.

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