CRIMSON
It remains as fresh as,
The blossoms of crimson carnations in May.
I was but only a sprout when,
I saw my beloved mother fall.
A bang! Followed by a screech
And she was on the ground.
As men with guns and blades lunged on
And ripped her teeth out,
The glistening ivory she wore
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Enthralling all with grace,
Now turned into a cavity of crimson,
Leaving her bereft in her humour.
Every detail traces my senses,
For I sat in the slush she laid in;
Yearning for her embrace,
The crimsons of carnation shall remain forever fresh.
— VAI
Explication: The above are words of an elephant who once was a calf, and witnessed his mother’s death/murder (poaching). The poem opens up with crimson carnations, in ancient Greek and Roman cultures red/crimson carnations were worn during funeral ceremonies in remembrance of the dear deceased, hence indicating the mother’s death, while crimson refers not only to the shades and tints of the carnations but also refers to the color of the puddle of blood the mother laid in.
