The relevant elephant Patricia Rhymes
Was hip with the kids and down with the times.
The quirkiest mammal at the zoo,
She acted differently than other animals do.
She liked plaid shirts and colorful beanies
At which the giraffes laughed, for they were meanies.
“Patricia’s horrible clothes are ugly as sin.
Doesn’t she know that spots are in?”
They looked down their noses, necks high in the air
And gave poor Patricia judgmental glares.
The lions, too, were unsympathetic.
They thought Patricia’s loud music was quite unaesthetic.
“Why does Patricia have to dance and groove?
All that ruckus disturbs us while we snooze.”
The big cats looked at Patricia and shook their manes
And worried the elephant was completely insane.
Then a squawk of laughter came from the cove
Where the pink flamingos made their abode.
The colorful birds strutted with grace
Acting as if they owned the place.
“We really don’t see what the fuss is about!
It’s not Patricia’s fault that she’s such a lout!”
Patricia Rhymes paid no attention
To her fellow animals’ growing dissension.
She ignored their hurtful words as well as she could
And tried to focus on what was good:
She loved the children who visited the elephant pen.
Patricia got peanuts and style tips from them.
But when the zoo closed at the end of the day,
Patricia wished she could banish her loneliness away.
Against her bullies she tried to stand tall,
But even an elephant can sometimes feel small.
The teasing got so bad that one day,
Patricia decided she must run away.
Far from the giraffes, flamingos, and lions she fled
While the other creatures slept soundly in bed.
She found herself at the other end of the zoo
And cried near the aquarium, not sure what to do.
“Why, my child, what could your problem be?”
Exclaimed a startled manatee.
Patricia glanced up at his kindly grey face
And morosely explained why she hated this place.
“The giraffes all giggle, the lions all laugh,
The flamingos all faint out of shame at my gaffes.
“Everyone thinks I’m clunky and weird,
And maybe they’re right; I should just disappear.
“I can run away from the creatures who all bully me
And live alone in a cottage out by the sea.
“No one will pick on my style, shape, or taste
And I’ll be an individual in my own space.”
Patricia sighed wistfully at thoughts of future fun
But the manatee realized there was more to be done.
“Patricia,” he said, “you have dreamed a nice dream,
But you should never run away from those who are mean.
“If you leave out of fear, then the bullies have won
And your misery and doubt will have only begun.”
“Then what should I do? I have no reason to stay!” sobbed Patricia.
“Why shouldn’t I just run away?”
“Think of the other animals at the zoo
What if they ran away when they had problems like you?
“What if the peacocks ran off when teased for their feathers?
What if the gorillas all fled when they heard monkeys called better?
“Or look at me!” he cried. “Do I run for cover
When a mean old mongoose teases me for my blubber?
“Of course not!” said the manatee, growing quite heated,
“For in a zoo such as ours, every animal is needed!
“Even the sad giraffes, with long necks they try to hide
And the insecure lions, who fight for their pride
“And the flamingos, too, worry what everyone thinks
About a flock of birds who are so crazily pink.
“We’re all a bunch of weird animals here,
But we shouldn’t shame others or have to feel fear.
“Be proud of yourself, Patricia Rhymes,
And forgive your bullies; they’ll come around in time.”
Patricia thought silently about the words he said,
And ever so slowly, she nodded her head.
“I can’t run away, though being alone might be fun,
For no one is happy in a community of one.
“I should stay, and maybe with my style and care,
I can make life better for creatures everywhere.
“It won’t be easy when I first begin,
But we can all be different while still fitting in.”
Patricia thanked the manatee for help with her plight
And then left for her pen, to fight the good fight.
The animal kingdom is full of quirks,
But Patricia had discovered that differences are nature’s biggest perk.
Now the relevant elephant Patricia Rhymes
Is still hip with the kids and down with the times.
She’s still quirky and zany and to herself true
And her kindness has created a compassionate zoo!