Childrens Book-The Greedy Little Elephant Poem by Christine K. Trease

Once upon a daydream, many years ago,
all the jungle elephants wore a short, gray nose.

It didn't seem a problem, they were all made that way.
All elephants were short-nosed and they were until one day...

when along came an elephant, the son of Jim and Joy.
They were proud old elephants to have a baby boy.

They doted on him greatly, gave him everything he'd need,
but his wants turned to desires and desires turned to greed!

The Towns' folk deplored him, he was such a little brat.
He got everything he wanted, that sneaky little rat!

The lion said, 'let's banish him and make him go away.'
But they all loved Jim and Joy so much, they had to find a way...

to teach the spoiled elephant the lesson he should learn,
which was not to want all that he saw and for everything to yearn.

They did not want to harm him, but their message he must heed.
The town must help the elephant to end his selfish greed.

The lion called a meeting, headed by the wise old owl.
Everyone attended, from the hippos to the fowl.

They must make him understand before it grows too late,
so all the jungle animals decided on a date..

They nominated monkey, who is elephant's best friend,
to set a trap to catch him, and this rudeness to end.

So monkey, who knew elephant better than most,
put his favorite snack on the fireplace to roast.

The peanut scent went far and wide to lure him to the trap.
The smell woke baby elephant from his daily nap.

He followed the aroma through the thick jungle air.
Closer and closer, he was drawn into the lair.

Meanwhile, the monkey placed the peanuts in the tree
inside its hollow core for the elephant to see.

The greedy little elephant spied them right away.
He knew that he must have them ALL, he always got his way!

He placed his little, greedy trunk deeply in the tree.
He wrapped his nose around them ALL and held on very tightly.

Then, the greedy little elephant began to tug and pull.
He wouldn't drpp the peanuts and his trunk was way too full.

He couldn't jerk the trunk-full through the hole in the tree,
so he stretched and he pulled, but he couldn't get free.

The greedy little elephant pulled with all his might
from early in the morning until late into that night.

He stood there in the moonlight, roughly tugging on his nose.
The strangeness that took place next, you never would suppose.

The tree gave his way to him, like everything before.
That greedy little elephant had won the tug-of-war!

He stood there so proudly, thinking he had won,
but then he looked down at his nose and said,

“what
have
I
done? ”

His nose dangled sadly as it dragged along the ground.
He trumpeted in sadness, then began to look around.

All the jungle animals had gathered there to see
the greedy little elephant acting selfishly.

He hung his head, so shameful, and the tears began to fall.
The greedy little elephant was not happy at all.

There was a silent moment, no one uttered a sound.
They all just stared in sadness at his nose upon the ground.

Then, monkey who had been his friend each and every day,
told the little elephant, 'I love you anyway.'

The animals began to cheer for monkey and his friend.
They knew that monkey's lesson brought the rudeness to an end.

The conclusion to this little tale is just as you'd suppose,
that's why today the elephant has a

LONG
LONG
LONG
NOSE!