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 is there.
We are thinking about the elephant as we talk.
It is constantly on our minds.  For you see, it is a very big elephant.
But we do not talk about the elephant in the room.
Oh, please, say her name.  Oh, please say 'Barbara' again.
Oh, please, let's talk about the elephant in the room.
For if we talk about her death, perhaps we can talk about her life.
Can I say, 'Barbara' and not have you look away?
For if I cannot, you are leaving me
Alone......In a room.....
With an elephant."
Terry Kittering