Quoted Verse

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

  "By a tree with naked feet I shed a tear

disarmed and moved before so much purity"

   Unknown Breton Poet

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...

T

ELEPHAN

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