In 248, B.C. in Carthage, a Phoenician city
A soon-to-be mighty general was a-born
The son of Hamilcar, a general very witty
Would soon grow up to be a great military leader

And now he is known as the elephant man
One of the greatest leaders Greece has ever known
Had greater tactical skills than another man can
And he started just a little kid in Carthage

Became Commander-in-chief of the Second Punic War
Wanted to invade the Roman Republic
Led his army through the Alps with elephants galore
And after living half his life in Rome a battle soon arose

Met up with Scipio Africanus in Zama, Rome
They fought for Roman rights, and of course Carthage’s honor
After being defeated Hannibal was exiled home
But a flame of indignation still burned in his heart

After losing in Zama, Hannibal became a judge
But he knew his enemies were still after his life
After finding out that his enemies held a grudge
He decided that he didn’t want to die at villains’ hands

So in 182, B.C. in Libyssa
He poisoned himself by the liquid in his ring
Before he died he wrote a letter everyone saw
And he wrote of all the pain that the Romans had seen


“Let us relieve the Romans
From the anxiety they have so long experienced,
Since they think it tries their patience
Too much to wait for an old man’s death”

And now he is known as the elephant man
One of the greatest leaders Greece has ever known
Had greater tactical skills than another man can
And he started just a little kid in Carthage