I opened The New York Times br the headline: br “Huge Conservation Effort Aims br to Save Vanishing Architect of the Savanna.” br First sentence: br “If elephants disappear other African species will follow too.” br Soon no wild elephants on the face of the earth. br 1930—10 million br Today—650,000. br All because humans lusted for ivory. br “Yes, ” I thought to myself, br “elephants are better than humans. br more noble, more peaceful, more wise. br One day all humanity shall be punished br for the killing of elephants.” br Grief seeped into my dizzy heart. br The train rattled on. br No good. br Leaping up I proclaimed, br “ELEPHANTS ARE BETTER THAN HUMANS. br MORE NOBLE, MORE PEACEFUL, MORE WISE.” br Stares, no applause. br “ONE DAY ALL HUMANITY br SHALL BE PUNISHED FOR THE KILLING OF ELEPHANTS.” br There it was. br Now everyone back to chatting, dozing, reading, br finished with watching br another mental case on the D train. br Then: br the memory of frozen winter afternoons br when I absorbed the steamy aromatic Elephant house br at the old Prospect Park Zoo, br at home there. br I didn’t want to cry, not now, br not in front of all these people. br so jumped up into, “WHAT NOW? ” br No response, br even from my own inner anguish. br Then: Parkside Avenue br lunging out br the vomit already br splashing on the filthy pavement.