A Calf Is Born Poem by Terry Dawson

On Simagogas ridge at dawn 
To elephant cow a calf is born. 
Renewal is a wondrous thing 
And all the clan stand round in ring. 

The mother speaks:  
Who would rob me of my child 
The future leader of the wild. 
To elephants, kin is the word 
The sacred bond that binds the herd. 

The calf speaks:  
And who would have me orphan be 
For my mother's ivory. 
Wild we, mother and I 
In wild, wild land of dry.

The elephants of the ring speak:
Now this is the lore of the hefty grey
The old ones mind as the small ones play
And all things wild are our concern;
The wise ones teach and the young ones learn.