When Giants Clash
“When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers”
Old Kenyan Proverb
Beneath the clash of giants tall
The earth itself begins to quake
With every step, the mountains break
And silent cries are drowned by all
The rivers dry, the forests fall
Their roots torn out for power’s sake
Yet none will see the hearts that ache
The small must bear the greatest thrall
For those unseen are crushed beneath
While titans vie for fleeting gain
Their toil becomes another’s bane
And life is robbed of vital breath
When might collides, the meek must pay
Their hardships pave the victor’s way
12-06-2024
© F Aparici
The African proverb “When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers” is a well-known idiom that means the weak are hurt when powerful forces go to war. The proverb is attributed to the Kikuyu people, a tribal group in Kenya.
The proverb's meaning is simple: when the large fight, the small suffer the most. It can also be applied to war, where the smallest and most vulnerable are the children.
The Swahili version of the proverb is “Ndovu wawili wakisongana, ziumiazo ni nyika,” which translates to "When two elephants fight, it is the grass (or reeds) that are hurt".
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