A man was walking through a grassland,

Before untouched by humankind,

When he spied a creature beside a stream.

To have not, he’d have to’ve been blind.

The elephant turned and saw the man,

The first he’d ever met.

But not dismayed, nor touched at all,

Position was reset.

"And what?" then thought the child of man.

"I’m the first he’s ever seen,

And yet he goes right back to munching

As if I don’t present a scene?"

"Oh elephant! We need to talk!

My mind you have intrigued!

Do people come this way so oft’

That you would go back to your weed?"

"Why no," the creature said in turning.

"You’re the first I’ve known.

But this is not a weed I’m churning.

Just think! It’s river-grown!"

"Now this is strange," then thought the man.

"You prefer your food to thought?

And do you wonder how your plant has come

And why the green of leaves was wrought?"

"I do not comprehend," beast pondered.

"Why think when I may have my fill?

What matters of its origin?

It’s green and I will eat it still."

"But don’t you search for knowledge new?

For stories yet untold?"

"Oh stop your pestering," beast replied.

"I think I’m growing old."

"But don’t you wonder why we’re here?

The reason we’re alive?"

"No sir," replied the elephant.

"I live only to survive."

"But see the sky! This rock! The river!

Just look at you and me!

Don’t you wonder why we’re here?

The purpose that we be?"

"Do not inquire that thing again.

My memory is quite good.

You’ve already asked that question once;

I clearly understood.

"Now listen well, my view is this:

Why waste our lives with fruitless try?

Much simpler for rock to be just rock,

For sky to be the sky."

Man was dismayed at lack of thought,

Accepting things just as they be,

So turned his heels and walked away.

He saw the beast would not agree.

And elephant, what did he do?

What response had he at hand?

Merely thought the creature would waste its life,

‘Twas man that couldn’t understand.

So man and beast, their pathways parting,

Each went his separate way.

For man, a thread in time was passing.