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