ELEPHANT

Elephant the Animal and Its Ivory in African Culture

Doran H. Ross

Page 65

African Arts, Vol. 25, No. 4, 100th Issue (Oct., 1992), pp. 64-81+107-108

"As the largest land animal on the planet, the elephant is a potent symbol of the animal kingdom, distinguished by its size, prehensile trunk, ivory tusks, and enormous ears. In the West, where the elephant is an exotic creature known only from books, movies, circuses, and zoos, its image suffers  distortion and even exploitation. Whether romanticized or trivialized, the elephant is rarely presented in its complex reality. But in Africa, where humans and elephants-or their respective ancestors-have coexisted for a million years or more, the elephant is known in fuller dimensions. It has been a source of food, material, and riches; a fearsome rival for resources; and a highly visible, provocative neighbor. Inevitably it has had an impact upon the artistic imagination. Even in areas where the elephant has now vanished, it persists as a symbol in expressive culture."

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Ode to the Elephant
Translated from the Spanish byllan Stavan
 Author(s): Pablo Neruda and Ilan Stavans Source: Ploughshares, Vol. 31, No. 1 (Spring, 2005), pp. 115-118 Published by: Ploughshares Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/40353775

 

Thick, pristine beast, Saint Elephant, sacred animal of perennial forests, sheer strength, fine and balanced leather of global saddle-makers, compact, satin-finished ivory, serene like the moon's flesh, with minuscule eyes to see - and not be seen - and a singing trunk, a blowing horn, hose of the creature rejoicing in its own freshness, shaking machine and forest telephone, the elephant passes by, tranquil, parading his ancient facade, his costume made of wrinkled trees, his pants falling down, and his teeny tail. 

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