Seventeen pink sugar elephants

I saw seventeen pink sugar elephants
Sitting under a chestnut tree
I said good morning pink sugar elephants
But they wouldn't speak to me

Each had two eyes but they couldn't see me there
Each had four legs but they couldn't go anywhere
And so we just sat
That early autumn morning
Sun not yet risen and magic everywhere

I walked up to one pink sugar elephant
Asked why wouldn't he speak to me
But he was a factory-made pink sugar elephant
Given to children for treats after tea

He had two eyes but he couldn't see me there
He had four legs but he couldn't go anywhere
And so we just sat
That early autumn morning
Sun not yet risen and magic everywhere

Why would I ever think an elephant
Made of sugar would speak to me?
But what were seventeen pink sugar elephants
Doing under a chestnut tree?