I stood and waited in an open field
for the great mahout. He went to work
on my back, weighing me down with sacks.
I screamed until my voice gave out.
Fell to my knees beneath the weight of a straw.
In time, I learned to understand his voice:
“Forget your past. Live this life. The long way out
has no way back.” He taught me things
that made me strange. How to pick him up
with my trunk and wave. How to genuflect
to the crowd. I had my nature but no more will.
I felt a bone inside my memory break.