I love Richard Outram’s book of poetry about an elephant named Mogul who met a terrible fate and died. Actually, he had already met a terrible fate before his death. Mogul was part of a circus, mistreated and betrayed. In 1836, the circus animals and handlers were on a ferry boat off the coast of New Brunswick when a fire broke out. I can only imagine the terror that shone in the eyes of man and beast, alike. Many animals were too dangerous to unleash, like the large cats. The roar of fire and screams must have mixed in with the smoke that left a trail of sadness, leaving an imprint that we look at delicately because to get close is to risk feeling overwhelmed with sadness.

It was written that Mogul broke his tether, and already blind in one eye, made his way to the rail of the listing ship where some people had lowered themselves into lifeboats. What a frightening sight it must have been to look up and see Mogul trumpeting and pushing against the railing. In a wink, he fell through the railing straight into their boats, drowning them.

One of Outram’s poems is titled, “Mogul’s Orrery.” An orrery is a model representing the solar system. You may have seen them in planetariums. How does Outram use the concept here?  He writes,

“Mogul has an orrery, not, granted, of clockwork.
Deep-sunk in his skull, forever implanted there.”

We all have an orrery or something our lives revolve around. Is it work? Drugs and alcohol? Family? What is the center of your orrery/life? What place does writing have in your world? Is it the center of your world, or is it out in the universe waiting to be discovered? Your answer to this question can affect the whole model, just as one orbit can affect the whole solar system.

Mogul’s tethered world was defined by others; his death, recorded by one newspaper journalist.

Whether it’s ten minutes a day or hours on end, you have the freedom to find your own world through writing. Through your writing, you can set in motion your orrery that will leak into the universe of language that lasts for eternity.

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Dr. Patricia Brawley maintains a therapy and consulting practice and is a university professor. She has always been deeply interested in mind-body interaction, health psychology, creativity, consciousness and dreams. She is strongly influenced by mindfulness meditation practice, Buddhist philosophy, yoga, and humanistic values and beliefs.

Dr. Brawley, a published author, enjoys writing and leading writing groups. She lives in McComb, Mississippi with her husband and three cats, Kwan Yin, Nightmare and Goldilocks.