day EIGHT HUNDRED and NINETEEN

An Elephant in Atlantic City

Atlantic City's elephant stands on a pedestal,

trunk up like a salesman drumming up trade.

The seats strapped to the back of this bull

are empty, the blanket on his back gilded

with pyrite. The casino advertised, the Taj Mahal,

is shut. The elephant is white. His sculptor unpaid.

At his feet a banner declaring 'Trump', left whole

and undamaged. Knock and it sounds hollow.

--Emma Lee