Anticipating social and political emancipation
in Late-Victorian Bristol
Cynthia the Elephant Woman
never wore a bag over her head
Instead
she educated herself
taking books off the shelf
on subjects as diverse as architecture
language teaching and the physical sciences
She never hid her ingenuity
to please
anybody
She cared not for measure of success
no gongs
medals
certificates
and so on
Instead
she lived her life fully
took a wife along the way
adopted Elephant Children strays
They exist
aye
yes they do
Elephant People
in communities too
making good the world
They have Cynthia to thank for this
for not holding back
for not wearing a sack
for being the best being
she could possibly be
Way back
in Late-Victorian Bristol
Brinkinfield 