Ballad, Continuing Series, Original Series, Poetry, Song

The Winter We Remember

Nancy's Notes 🖊️♬

Inspired by Max’s blog, ‘Old Steam Ships’ –
SS Fleurus: The Day the Circus Ship
Caught Fire, this is my ballad for
Shirley and Jenny. As you may have
guessed by the name of my site, I am
extremely fond of elephants; they
do not belong in the circus.
Please check out Max’s site
for the story of the SS Fleurus.

Jenny (middle) & Shirley (right)
© PBS

Foreword: Shirley and Jenny were two captive circus elephants who shared an incredible reunion at The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee in 1999. Shirley was captured in Sumatra in 1948 and spent decades in a traveling circus, followed by years of isolated captivity at the Louisiana Purchase Zoo. Jenny was born wild in Sumatra in 1972 and spent one winter in the circus with Shirley before being moved. She later sustained a severe leg injury at a breeding facility, resulting in amputation below the knee. When Shirley arrived at the sanctuary in Tennessee, both she and Jenny grew intensely frantic to touch, using so much force that they bent the steel bars that separated them. When workers at the sanctuary opened the gate, the two elephants ran together, intertwining their trunks in immediate, joyful recognition. Neither of them had forgotten the emotional bond they shared during their one winter together in the circus, even after a decades-long separation. For the next seven years, Shirley and Jenny remained inseparable, living a mother/daughter-style dynamic. Jenny passed away in 2006, with Shirley standing vigil by her side through her final moments. Shirley lived on as matriarch until passing away peacefully in 2021 at age 72. Their story was famously featured in the Emmy-winning PBS documentary “The Urban Elephant”.

Shirley (L) & Jenny (R)
© InspireMore.com

The Winter We Remember (song created by me and Suno)

There was a winter long ago,
one season, come and gone ….
a small one shivered in the cold
till a giant led her on.
Shirley stood the storms for her,
a shield against the sky,
and something took root in that short time
that twenty years could not deny.

Chorus
Oh, the winter we remember,
though the world has torn apart,
love don’t measure in the calendar ….
it measures in the heart.
Twenty years of silence, girl,
and still you knew my name.
Some bonds don’t fade, they only wait
for the day we meet again.

They walked her off in chains and rope,
to a yard of concrete gray,
and Jenny’s road wound far from there,
through her own long, lonesome days.
No letters passed, no photographs,
just a memory buried deep ….
one small season by a mother’s side
that a lifetime couldn’t sweep.

(Chorus)

Then a truck rolled in on a summer night,
and a gate swung slow and wide,
and something old woke up in her
that she’d carried deep inside.
She ran, she roared, she pressed the bars
till the steel itself gave way ….
twenty-two years came pouring out
in the space of a single day.

Chorus
Oh, the winter we remember,
came back louder than a bell,
love don’t ask you to explain it,
it just knows, and knows it well.
Trunk to trunk and breath to breath,
they cried out, I know you still ….
some bonds don’t break, they only bend,
like steel bars always will.

Seven years they walked as one,
through the fields of Tennessee,
Shirley standing watch at noon
so her old friend could sleep.
And when the last night finally came
and Jenny couldn’t rise,
Shirley stayed until the dawn,
then walked off with the sky.

Final Chorus
Oh, the winter we remember,
it never did let go ….
love don’t care how long the distance,
love just wants you home.
So if you’re carrying someone, friend,
across the years, the miles, the pain ….
hold on, hold on, the way they did,
you may yet meet again.

NAR©2026

© InspireMore.com

This is “Shirley’s Story”, a clip from “The Urban Elephant”

SS Fleurus: The Day the Circus Ship Caught Fire

Everything on The Elephant’s Trunk was created by me, unless otherwise indicated, and may not be used without permission. Thanks for your consideration. NAR©2017-present.

34 thoughts on “The Winter We Remember”

    1. Thanks very much, Liz; I glad you enjoyed it. I’m still pretty new to this so, as far as I know, its strictly an AI app; users type in the words to their songs along with the style of song and type of voice and any other pertinent info to make it as personalized as possible. I know I can use my own voice but I don’t know if it’s possible to have a known singer perform my songs.

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    1. Thanks very much, dear Keith; I’m so pleased you enjoyed my song and learning about Shirley and Jenny. Suno is fun and allows me to be musically creative again …. something I love and miss (playing the piano) since my hand surgery.

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    1. Thanks, Keith; I’m happy to know you enjoyed my post. I get what you’re saying. I only looked into Suno because a couple of my WP friends use that app. I started off with the free plan just to get a taste. I quickly ran out of free space and decided to spring for the $8/month plan …. less than a single lunch for one person at McDonalds! Who knows how many songs I’ll be creating each month (probably not many) but I want to be able to create some and that’s impossible without a plan. Besides, it’s one more thing to help keep my brain active and there really isn’t a price tag for that. After a year, if I find it’s not worth it, I can always cancel.

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  8. Great story, Nancy and I loved your poetic song. Herding cats is a phrase used when you are trying to control a group of people or things that are totally independent, uncooperative, and hard to organize. I know my cats all try to find hiding places when the cages come out for them to go to the vet. I can’t even imagine how difficult it would be trying to get Shirley loaded on that truck.

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    1. No, I can’t either, Jim. As I mentioned briefly, these magnificent creatures do not belong in the circus, the zoo, or behind any bars. The way Shirley and Jenny were treated was criminal, but my heart was warmed knowing they found their way back to each other and lived out the rest of their lives in relative peace and comfort. Thanks for your very kind and always informative comments.

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  10. Beautiful song Nancy! That was really touching…such a story she had and also Jenny. Wonderful lyrics and melody.

    You also told me things I didn’t know about her past and Jenny’s age. And picturing Shirley at Jenny’s side in 2006 is so sad and wonderful at the same time. It’s one of the best stories I’ve ran across…forget the ship…Shirley was the star.

    That documentary got to me…what a story…

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    1. Oh, I totally agree with you that Shirley was the star. I actually knew the story about Shirley and Jenny’s reunion but I had no idea a circus ship was involved in any way; I was very surprised, thinking this would be solely about the ship. I’m relieved and thankful that only one poor animal perished out of all those on board. The story of the SS Fleurus and Shirley & Jenny was a nice change of pace. I greatly appreciate all your lovely comments about my ballad; it was, for me, the only way to go. Thanks, Max!

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      1. I had never heard of her and she was in my state. Thank you once again…you gave me information I didn’t know and the song fit perfectly.
        When I first saw the story and what it was about, I thought oh no this is going to end terrible. It turned out to be one of the most uplifting ones. You picked out the best part of the story and I’m glad you highlighted Shirley and Jenny…just like Mary Cornish a few weeks ago…they all deserved to be known.

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        1. Thanks again, Max. You put a lot of time and energy into these steam ship posts; I don’t want to say “work” because it’s really more of a labor of love for both of us. I’m happy to be given the opportunity to contribute to what you share with us and to do your posts proud. I try to look for “a voice” that needs to be heard, whether a hero or someone unburdening themselves and seeking redemption. It really is a joy.

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          1. I enjoy this so much Nancy. I enjoy my music blog, but this challenges me and I’m always learning. It amazes me as well on what you will do with it. I always wonder what part, person, or event you will pick from the story. Plus, you end up telling me something I don’t see how you do it in that short of time!

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  11. Thank you for sharing Urban Elephant video and for your lovely Suno song lyrics … I’ve just played the song and the video all the way through, and now I’m a tired old elephant/poet, who rest peacefully tonight my dear friend … 📃🌏🐘🥰

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  12. Nance you created a lovely ballad in honour of these two wonderful creatures. The story is incredible I watched the video so am in tears currently- for what we humans do to animals, for Solomon and the loss he felt and for Shirley and Jenny finally finding each other again after so many decades- it was like a mother and daughter reuniting- so emotional- so beautiful- 💔

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    1. It certainly is an amazing story, Ange, and one very close to my heart, as you can imagine. I vividly remember going to the circus as a child and being thrilled by the elephants and other animals. Back then, in the age of innocence, we had never heard of animal abuse. Now I cringe when I think of it, how anyone could hurt these gentle, majestic creatures. Thank you for reading, listening and watching; I’m so pleased to know you enjoyed today’s steam ship story. 🐘 🩶

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