I’m Shankar an elephant still chained in Delhi Zoo

I’m Shankar
the elephant
that’s what they called me
I am alone
in Delhi Zoo
I came from Zimbabwe
I’m chained up and lonely
don’t you folks love me?
I need to be free

Indian handlers
are very upsetting
they don’t have a clue
and their bullhooks
do pain
they chain me up daily
my legs are so sore now
they kick me
they punch me
my life seems in vain

They swear at me all the time
clearly they hate me
I’ve been broken for ages
I just want to die
if there’s a god
he must know now I languish
in this vile zoo
though I still don’t know why

Africa really is my true home
my birth place
I cannot walk
or forage
there’s no dust
for my skin
and no pool to soak in
I’m beaten
I have bruises
it is now wearing thin

clearly these souls hate me
and I hate to be here
will somebody on face book
listen for its clear
I am a lonely soul you know
and people here don’t care
I’m dying just a bit each day
why are you not aware ?

I’m Shankar
I’m an elephant
please hear my lament
I cannot trumpet any more
my poor old heart
is spent
I cry out though to all of you
in your vast countries and
ask you from the bottom
of my heart to understand