The Elephant in the Room

The Elephant in the Room – is there something I’m not saying? The tyranny of 30 poems perhaps just waiting to be done?

The Elephant in the Room

The elephant sits quietly in the corner of the room

but she will not be ignored.

You think she is sleeping and not taking part

but don’t think that she is bored.

She is biding her time and waiting for you

to pussyfoot around her great girth.

And just when you think you have mastered the show

she’ll humble you with embarrassing mirth.

She’s not a red herring, she matters too much

but somehow nobody mentions her name.

We dodge and we weave, we duck and we dive

But we get nowhere all the same.

Eventually, someone will tentatively mention

the elephant stationed alone in the gloom.

We all turn to stare at the bulk in the corner

and none of us escape immune.

I bought her at a market or was it a zoo?

A white elephant that has outgrown its home.

But if you face her and admit she exists

with an elephant you’re never alone.

So don’t ever ignore her or pretend she’s not there,

it really will do you no good.

By being transparent, you help her size disappear

and suddenly your fear will abate.

So wherever you see her, don’t hide from her mass

but always include her in the debate.

The elephant in the room can seem like a problem,

a quandary, a crisis or curse

But remember the elephant never forgets

So involve her – or it’ll be worse.

Linda Prince