For to See The Elephant: A Novel in Verse
Elephants bury and mourn their dead. Their bones are sacred, and their bonds are strong. This novel-in-verse relates how capitalism and the worst of American values broke the bonds and desecrated the bones of two elephants and countless others since. The novel is an extraordinary blend of careful research and rich imagination. The author weaves diaries, advertisements, newspaper articles, court documents, and even accountants’ notes into compelling found poetry. Each poem expounding the joy, excitement, and danger in capturing, abusing, and showing the first elephants in America.
Truax’s ability to root her tale in truth is impressive, but what makes the novel unforgettable is her ability to fill the spaces in between. Beginning in 1795 in Salem, Massachusetts, short chapters throughout the novel give voice to the first two elephants imported to the United States. Elegant and simple poems share the pain and steadfastness of an enslaved man named William who devoted his life to both animals. The depth, brilliance, and deep connection to those they loved are carefully captured in these sections. Making it painfully clear that the kindness and intelligence of these creatures and their caregiver far exceed the capacity of most humans to reason and love.
With a keen eye and an enormous heart, Truax’s words make it clear that suffering is suffering, whether animal or human. This idea is skillfully illustrated through the intertwining path of William and the elephants. At the close of the novel, as the elephant Big Bette pleads for each of us to find and put to rest the sacred bones of the first elephants in America, it is clear that she is also urging us to seek the stories of all those exploited by this country for personal gain and amusement. I highly recommend it for middle grades and up.
