Elephant Lullaby, translated by Jirapat Samranvedhya

Poestenkill, NY: Kaldewey Press, 2013. Kaldewey, Gunnar. Oblong elephant folio. (14)ff., accordion-fold. One of thirty-six copies. Printed in silver ink, with illustrations of elephants, on deep red handmade paper. The text is a poem written in Thai, and an English translation is provided on a separate sheet of paper accompanying the book. In Thailand for many centuries, rare white elephants were captured and tamed whenever they were discovered, in order to be presented to the king. In the Introduction to the book, Kaldewey explains that the elephants were presented to court in a ceremony that included music and dance. "For each of them the court poet composes a special welcoming lullaby," one of which is presented here. The lullaby compels the elephant not to miss her past in the forest, as "There is much discomfort in the forest, but bliss reigns in the city... Blame no one, for your fate as the royal elephant has been decided by Brahma himself. The gods deem you fit for His Majesty, and we will care for you as such." Bound by Thomas Zwang in traditional Thai style, with paper-covered boards stamped with the title in silver, and enclosed in a heavily-textured handmade-paper chemise. Housed in a gray paper-covered slipcase.