Fun at the Water Hole

A baby elephant came for a drink,
in the hot, hot sun, at the water hole’s brink.

A splash and a splosh and a cold squirt of water
from her playful brother sprayed out and caught her.

Her mother kept watch, looking for danger
a tiger, a lion, a poacher, a ranger.

She used her long trunk, with its sun-baked tough skin
to firmly yank her baby back in

trumpeting loudly if the games got too rough
if she strayed too far, saying ‘Hey, that’s enough!’

The baby elephant, prodded by tusks
then followed mum home in the veldt’s quiet dusk

hoping for grass, tree bark and fruits
or tasty treats, like sweet, juicy roots

sleepily thinking of the watery fun
when she’d cooled herself off in the hot, hot sun.