THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM

THERE'S AN ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM.
IT IS LARGE AND SQUATTING,
SO IT IS HARD TO GET AROUND IT.
YET WE SQUEEZE BY WITH,
"HOW ARE YOU?"
AND "I'M FINE,"
AND A THOUSAND OTHER
FORMS OF TRIVIAL CHATTER.
WE TALK ABOUT THE WEATHER.
WE TALK ABOUT WORK.
WE TALK ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE,
EXCEPT THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM.

THERE'S AN ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM.
WE ALL KNOW IT'S THERE.
WE ARE THINKING ABOUT THE ELEPHANT
AS WE TALK TOGETHER.
IT IS CONSTANTLY ON OUR MINDS.
FOR, YOU SEE,
IT IS A VERY LARGE ELEPHANT.
IT HAS HURT US ALL.
BUT WE DON'T TALK ABOUT THE ELEPHANT
IN THE ROOM.

OH, PLEASE SAY HIS (HER) NAME.
OH, PLEASE SAY HIS (HER) NAME AGAIN.
OH, PLEASE,
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE ELEPHANT
IN THE ROOM.
FOR IF WE TALK ABOUT
HIS (HER) DEATH,
PERHAPS WE CAN TALK A
BOUT HIS (HER) LIFE.

CAN I SAY HIS (HER) NAME TO YOU
AND NOT HAVE YOU LOOK AWAY?
FOR IF I CANNOT,
THEN YOU ARE LEAVING ME....
ALONE....
IN A ROOM....
WITH AN ELEPHANT.