Elephants

forest draped they were
with bands of green
bald gray heads
white-capped

the mountains loomed
and from the pass below
I hear a distant clamor

crimson draped they were
with white tusks
bald gray shapes
saddle-capped

great beasts of war
I'd never seen before
many men in armor
are passing through this pass

from the high green fields I watch them
the beasts but dots
and many men so small

south they go
will I ever hear of their far off war?
I watch them pass into history