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Elephants of Style

Waltz into my room wearing purple robes,
skull caps decorated with gold tassels
coins from countries that sell dark sun glasses.
I ask them to sit down and eat something—
I am trying to be a thoughtful host,
offer green pears, bananas, guacamole.

All must be green, even the bananas.
That’s because they’re such elephants of style
wearing pearls, ostrich and peacock feathers.
I’ve folded napkins into triangles,
piped in cool water from a garden hose.
Their feet are a stampede of slate columns.
No one wants to be the first to repose.
They think that would be sheepish.