Elephants

Don't think
about the pink ones --
you are, aren't you?

They stand in the midst
of this kitchen,
of our conversation,
pretending to be comfortable,
as if they are nothing out
of the ordinary.

They pretend they belong,
much the way we do.
They pretend they are not wrong,
much the way we do.

Ignore the big one
over there, by the furnace,
like you ignore the meanings
in everything I say.

These elephants won't
just go away.