The Magic Elephant
The Bradbury Brothers Big Top
Travelled round from town to town
With all the big attractions
Tigers, tightropes and a clown
To keep the patrons interested
They had to keep it new
So they brought a snake and elephant
And bearded lady too
But the Strongman pulled a hammie
(He exerted too much force)
And the showgirl broke her leg
When falling from her dancing horse
The Bradbury Brothers panicked
The tent was full of angry hicks
They would have to get the elephant
To do some magic tricks
Card tricks are elementary
And quite easy to debunk
This trick must be amazing
(And completed with a trunk!)
They set up eight big ostrich eggs
With care upon the mat
And gave the giant pachyderm
A wizard wand and hat
Then to the crowd’s great wonder
Each egg just sank away
Though it was not a magic elephant
(but a starving snake that day)
The only proof of what occurred
For the trick had gone so well
Was a smiling snake contented
Burping out the old egg shells.
Sioban Timmer
- Submitted in response to Poetry Prompt #26