Ella the Elephant

by Donna Hruska

Ella the elephant Was puzzled and sad. She felt she might cry She was feeling so bad.

• • •

She had awakened that morning In such a good mood so fresh. She had eaten six bowlsful Of elephant food.

• • •

“Oh, hello, Jimmy Monkey,” She said to her friend, As she tripped on his tail And fell end over end.

• • •

“How about a game Of Hide and Go Seek? You can be ‘it’ If you won’t peek!”

• • •

“No thanks,” answered Jimmy. “You can’t count on me!” And quick as a flash He raced up a tree.

• • •

“I’ll ask Laura Lion,” Ella called as she ran, “She likes to play tag And adores ‘Kick the Can’!”

• • •

“I’m sorry,” said Laura, “But I must say no. I can’t play because You’ve stepped on my toe!”

• • •

Ella asked Sammy Zebra And Jeremy Gnu, But both of them answered, “We can’t play with you!”

• • •

Poor Ella was baffled And sat on a stump But fell over backwards With a shattering BUMP!

• • •

“Why won’t they be friends?” She asked at a loss— “I try to be pleasant And never be cross.”

• • •

“I think I can help you,” A gentle voice said. It was Hilda the Hippo Nodding her head.

• • •

“When I was a youngster I had the same trouble. When I came to play Friends ran on the double.”

• • •

“Like you I was awkward, I stepped on their toes, I tripped and I stumbled, I splashed on their clothes.”

• • •

“But, what did you do? You must tell me quick!” Said Ella to Hilda, “Pray, what was the trick?

• • •

“The answer’s quite simple, There’s only one way, To make yourself graceful You must learn—BALLET!”

• • •

“Ballet?” exclaimed Ella, “Do you mean dancing? But they would all laugh At an elephant prancing!”

• • •

“Oh, it isn’t easy!” Hilda replied, “But if you work hard You’ll be glad you tried.”

• • •

“For friends will no longer Be running away For fear that you’ll hurt them When you come to play!”

• • •

So Ella, determined To learn ballet well, Enrolled in the salon Of Madame Gazelle.

• • •

She studied and practiced To learn each position; She ached till she thought She’d need a physician.

• • •

At first she was awkward— When she made a mistake, She fell on the ground And the jungle would shake.

• • •

But Ella worked hard To learn how to move, And gradually she Began to improve.

• • •

And then the day came When Madam Gazelle Announced a recital For those who danced well!

• • •

And who was to be The star of the show? Yes, ELLA THE ELEPHANT! By now you should know!

• • •

The day of the recital All the animals came. Would Ella be graceful, Or still just the same?

• • •

Seeing her playmates Before her assembled, Ella felt nervous And all her knees trembled.

• • •

Then she stepped out, As the lights grew dim, In a tutu of pink With blue and gold trim.

• • •

Pivoting and whirling With abandon and grace, She charmed and astonished Everyone in the place.

• • •

Her arabesques were grand! Pirouettes unsurpassed! Her skill left her audience Completely aghast!

• • •

When she finished, the applause Was loud and so thunderous That to Ella it seemed Fantastic and wonderous.

• • •

And when it was over Her friends were all waiting. “Come on, Ella,” they cried, “We’re all going skating!”

• • •

And Ella the Awkward, Who used to be friendless, Is now Ella the Graceful Whose friends are just endless!