Ned has Passed

I went to Ned's Diary tonight for an update. This is what I read

Ned was with us such a short time and now he is gone. When he crossed over there can be no doubt that he was in the company of his sister-elephant Bunny who passed away only 12 hours before him. Although these two deaths were unrelated on a physical level, on a deeper level they could not be more related. Ned passed away at 3:47am CT in the company of a caregiver. He passed without a struggle, just two deep breaths and a sigh and then he was gone. We feel cheated by the little time we had with Ned, but cherish every single moment we were allowed to care for and get to know this most amazing boy/man elephant known as Ned. We love you Ned, Namaste sweet boy.

If you know me you know that the tears are now streaming down my face. For some reason I have always loved elephants. These gigantic, gentle beasts have touched something in my heart. I found out about Ned and I read his story and saw his movie. I could not understand how he could have been treated so poorly. He inspired a poem:

Ned
Ned stood in the door of his Semi-trailer
An elephant
You would not think that he would be timid
But he had lived a horrible life
An elephant
Nature’s most majestic animal
He should be living large
Proud with a gentle bearing
But not Ned
Ned is frightened
He sways from side to side
peering out timidly.
He has been a long time in a bad place
That would frighten even the bravest animal
Ned doesn’t like to eat.
He is skin and bones
Slowly, slowly he moves forward
Swaying from side to side.
Tentative
gaining a little confidence with each step.
Soon he is inside his new “place”
People help and love him
They want him to recover from what others have done to him.
I found him on the Internets
I pray for him
I want him to live a long life
in love
with friends
gaining each day
Blessing the earth with his presence
Go Ned!

Ned didn't make it. The cruelty of man did him in. In the end he was not strong enough to live in this world. The folks who cared for him are saints. They mourn, I mourn. I send my love to Ned where ever in the universe he has chosen to be. A part of him will remain with me. In my heart.

I will leave the link up to Ned's story for awhile yet. If you have time go read the whole story.

Addendum - There are tributes to Ned here.