In Dispraise Of Poetry

When the King of Siam disliked a courtier,

he gave him a beautiful white elephant.

The miracle beast deserved such ritual

that to care for him properly meant ruin.

Yet to care for him improperly was worse.

It appears the gift could not be refused.

—

This is from Collected Poems by Jack Gilbert, published by Alfred A. Knopf, 2012.