Parveen and the Elephants Dream

Parveen lived in a small dusty village
Where life can sometimes be hard
But Parveen was happy; she had friends and a family
And an elephant in her back yard

One day when Parveen was just ten years old,
Her father announced without warning,
The elephant’s yours my dear little girl,
You can ride him to school in the morning.

The old grey elephant was one of her friends
He’d been part of the family for years,
Parveen grew up swinging on his strong trunk
And tugging his huge floppy ears.

Parveen was proud to be riding to school,
That she laughed as she rocked to and fro,
Sat way up high with her head in the clouds,
Watching the world down below.

What a wonderful view Parveen had now,
The journey to school seemed to fly,
She passed other children the same age as her,
Riding their elephants by.

On arriving at school she rushed into class,
Leaving her friend at the gate,
She watched from the window as he flapped his grey ears,
Swishing flies with his tail as he ate.

Parveen asked her grey friend on the way home from school,
Is it true that you never forget?
Elephants remember all they are taught
He said, but I’ve learned nothing yet

You see said the elephant this is all that I know,
This school and the street we live in,
I carried your father to school before you,
And I carried his Father before him.

I know there are cities, the elephant continued
And that man drives around in a car
But these are my dreams and not to be seen,
As I know I’ll not venture that far.

Not true said Parveen you can have your dream,
I can show you some wonderful sights.
Tomorrow we’ll take the high mountain path,
And we’ll head for the cities bright lights.

But isn’t that dangerous the elephant said,
You’ll be missing your school lessons too,
I’ll write said Parveen telling my father,
That it’s your turn to learn something new.

So it was decided in the first morning light,
Parveen penned her note on the floor,
She grabbed some apples and a small bag of rice,
And quietly slipped out the door.

The pair set off as the sun came up,
With Parveen on the elephants back,
They plodded on slowly out of the village
And onto the high mountain track.

On the first tight bend of the mountain road,
The pair were stopped in their paces,
As there near the woods two monkeys stood,
Surrounded by travelling cases.

Whoooa! said Parveen Eeeeek! said the elephant,
Hooray! the monkeys both cried,
We’ve been waiting here for what seems like an age,
Any chance you could give us a ride?

Well said Parveen we’re going to the city
That’s great said the monkeys, us too,
We’re travellers hoping to find an old friend,
We heard that he’s trapped in the Zoo.

Our friend’s a white crane the monkeys explained.
He used to live here in this tree,
But he’s had some bad luck and has got himself stuck.
Now we just want to set our friend free.

Come then, said Parveen and the monkeys climbed on,
And loaded their many suit cases,
They giggled a lot as the elephant set off,
And sat there with smiles on their faces.

As the path wound on Parveen asked questions,
And the monkeys told stories and talked,
About places they’d been and things that they’d seen,
The elephant listened and walked.

Suddenly the elephant slammed on his brakes
Sending the two monkeys flying,
There on the path was a huge orange tiger,
Walking in circles and crying

Parveen was frightened and quaked in her sandals
And the elephant trembled and shook
But why was the tiger so sad and confused?
The monkeys were too scared to look.

Hello growled the tiger is somebody there?
I’m sorry but I really can’t see,
Hello said Parveen we’re four on this path,
Two monkeys, an elephant and me.

I’m going to the city the tiger said calmly
I’m hoping a doctor I’ll find,
My eyes are so bad if I don’t get them cured,
In a few weeks I’m sure I’ll be blind.

Parveen slid down the elephant’s trunk,
I’m Parveen she said pleased to meet you,
Hello said the tiger please tell your friends
I’m not here to harm you or eat you.

Parveen looked in the tiger’s sad eyes,
And whispered you’re sight shall be saved
You can follow us down to the city my friend
If you promise you’ll be well behaved.

Her brown eyes grew wider as she studied the tiger,
For the beautiful beast she felt pity,
She tickled the elephant to pick up the pace,
She was desperate to get to the city.

So the group pressed on in the midday sun,
As they watched the path slowly wind,
With the monkeys dancing on the elephants back,
And the huge tiger plodding behind.

The tiger told how he was tired and old.
But he once had a spring in his stride,
The most feared tiger for many a mile,
He had now lost his sight and his pride.

Riding high on the elephants back,
Parveen looked on to the sea.
How strange we must look she thought to herself,
These beautiful animals and me.

By now the city had come into view,
Glistening bright like a jewel,
The sun was lower and the group descended,
And at last it began to get cool.

Once down from the hills the city was sprawling,
And the buildings stretched up to the stars,
Parveen and the animals were entering a world,
Of confusion and people and cars.

We’re lost said Parveen, where do we go?
To the zoo the monkeys both said,
So the elephant followed a large painted sign,
That read “Old City Zoo Straight Ahead”

People in their cars pointed and laughed,
They couldn’t believe what they’d seen,
The elephant plodding with the blind tiger following,
And the monkeys on high with Parveen.

The zoo was a sad place the monkeys both thought,
It wasn’t the place they’d expected,
And there in a cage sat the yellow beaked crane.
Looking terribly frail and neglected.

The beautiful bird was so sad in that cage
The zoo was abandoned and old
He begged the elephant to help him escape
So at last his wings could unfold.

So the elephant pulled at the bars with his trunk,
And the tiger pushed with his head,
Then the crane slipped out with a joyful shout,
And Parveen and the animals fled.

On being released the crane agreed,
To help with the blind tigers plight,
I know of a man he said who’s a genius
He can help to give anyone sight.

The crane flew, the elephant plodded,
And the two monkeys giggled some more,
Until the animals stood near a small shop front,
With O P T I C I A N spelt over the door.

The optician was short, round and rather excited,
His job is to save people sight
He asked the tiger to read out some letters,
Starting ABC left to right

So the poor tiger struggled, Er A? he said B?
He was trying his hardest to please,
I know your problem, remarked the optician,
It’s glasses you need, …..here try these.

I can see said the tiger A, B, C read the tiger,
Oh joy he said holding back tears,
I can now see Parveen the monkeys, the crane
And the elephant’s huge floppy ears.

The animals laughed and thanked the optician.
And rejoined the bustle outside,
The tiger walked with his head held high,
He was almost bursting with pride.

I’ve not seen much said the old grey elephant,
As Parveen climbed onto his head.
But to see a Tiger regain his sight
That’s truly amazing he said.

The crane flew down to the elephant’s side
And said I’m delighted to know you.
Now the tiger can see and you helped set me free
So there’s one place I’m eager to show you.

Great said the elephant, I’m here to explore
I’m going to remember this day,
Well at this place you’ll learn all that’s worth learning
Said the crane please hurry this way.

Parveen and her friends soon arrived on a square
Where a sign read “Latest Exhibit”
“A history of life” and in large blue text
“OUR WORLD AND ALL THAT IS IN IT”

This is it said the crane the national museum
So Parveen knocked on the big door.
The man who opened was shocked and surprised
Like he’d not seen a tiger before.

Um er…. we’re closed said the man come back tomorrow
But we leave town today said Parveen
Ok said the man but I could lose my job
So make sure you’re not heard or seen

Parveen entered, and the animals followed
And the Museum stretched out before them
They tiptoed along trying to me quiet
Hoping that no body saw them.

The tiger was amazed at the museums treasures
Look he said Dinosaur bones
And those are cave men the crane interrupted
With arrowheads made out of stones.

Look at the pyramids the elephant laughed
What a strange shape they are and so grand
Look at the pictures of jungles and oceans
And those deserts with all of that sand.

The monkeys giggled as they rode on the elephant
Just look at the size of those whales
And that treasure chest and pirates ship
Complete with cannons and sails.

There’s so much history to see said Parveen
It’s hard to know where to begin,
Yes but now it makes sense the elephant said
Our world and how we fit in.

That evening the tiger, the monkeys the crane
And the Elephant carrying Parveen
Trudged out of the city and back to the hills
Discussing the things that they’d seen.

Parveen and the elephant said their goodbyes,
As the sun dipped low in the sky,
Then the two funny monkeys, the crane and the tiger,
Were gone in the blink of an eye

The crane and the monkeys still hang out together
And travel a lot up the coast
The tiger is older but very much bolder
And his eyes site’s still sharper than most
.
The old grey elephant takes Parveen to school
And she hasn’t been late for class yet
Now that elephant’s knowledge is the talk of the village
Because Elephants never forget.

©RS2011