To Train an Elephant

Did you know that in order to train an elephant 

you have to beat it, stab it, tie it up with knots 

that razor up the flesh of thighs and knees. 

Toenails are chipped—yeah: 

trainers stomp down, down, and hard, too. 

Can you believe it? 

To train an elephant you have to 

poke holes in its ears with hot rail nails— 

sometimes you have to cut a little bit 

into the tusk—to the nerve. 

The elephant’s flesh and face are sculpted 

with such—calculation. It’s the proven way.