Seventeen Pink Sugar Elephants

I saw seventeen pink sugar elephants

Sitting under a chestnut tree

I said good morning pink sugar elephants

But they wouldn't speak to me

Each had two eyes but they couldn't see me there

Each had four legs but they couldn't go anywhere

And so we just sat

That early autumn morning

Sun not yet risen and magic everywhere

I walked up to one pink sugar elephant

Asked why wouldn't he speak to me

But he was a factory-made pink sugar elephant

Given to children for treats after tea

He had two eyes but he couldn't see me there

He had four legs but he couldn't go anywhere

And so we just sat

That early autumn morning

Sun not yet risen and magic everywhere

Why would I ever think an elephant

Made of sugar would speak to me?

But what were seventeen pink sugar elephants

Doing under a chestnut tree?