They told us we could use another elephant
But we knew what they meant and couldn't see the point.

So we decided to fill in the hole
And cover it over.

We worked into the early hours.
We cried, some inwardly, some outwardly,
According to rank.

Eventually the sounds of the night
Got quieter
And quieter,
Then ended.

Ended in the saddest silence ever heard.

Terry Donovan

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/elephant-down/