Quoted Verse

The screenplay to "Do Elephants Pray?" includes several poetical works quoted in the film by Malika. They are reproduced here.

Our very existence is the source of our conceit
We go further and further into space
No life

And we
As the most intelligent of the fortunate
Have the audacity to question
Having given ourselves the right
And the obligation

While the others believe
Or don’t
As a matter of fact

Or
Are they unconcerned
As we should be

I’ve seen elephants cry
But do they pray?

© 2007 Masheika E. Allen
Reproduced with kind permission

By ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON

Two passages of the poem that are quoted in the film are reproduced here. The full poem is downloadable via the link below.

A storm was coming, but the winds were still,
And in the wild woods of Broceliande,
Before an oak, so hollow, huge and old
It looked a tower of ivied masonwork,
At Merlin's feet the wily Vivien lay.

But Vivien, fearing heaven had heard her oath,
And dazzled by the livid-flickering fork,
And deafened with the stammering cracks and claps
That followed, flying back and crying out,
"O Merlin, though you do not love me, save,
Yet save me!" clung to him and hugged him close;
And called him dear protector in her fright,
Nor yet forgot her practice in her fright,
But wrought upon his mood and hugged him close.
The pale blood of the wizard at her touch
Took gayer colours, like an opal warmed.
She blamed herself for telling hearsay tales:
She shook from fear, and for her fault she wept

Click to download the full poem...