Photo by Chris Magson
Asses of the Developed World
At dawn, they’re nestled in fresh straw. These spoiled
geldings who know their donkey history refuse to toil, refuse
to sleep standing. Hours after the rooster crows, they get up, wander
to the water tank, in which swims a goldfish they may eat one day.
In the afternoon, the asses battle, bite to draw blood,
rear on hind legs, thrash hooves in the air.
When the neighbor’s cockapoo gets into the field
there’s a wild ride through the pines.
They chase him north to south and south to north
running nose to the earth, mule-kicking and snorting,
until that dog escapes through a hole in the fence.
Sometimes the asses study a rabbit or crow with such intensity
they don’t respond to rattling feed pans. Sometimes they face Mecca
or contemplate Somalia where wild ass is meat for soldiers,
or Jerusalem, where donkeys toil under burdens in the heat.
Sometimes they look south toward Mexico
where two fat men smoking ride one small beast up a hill.
The asses are hungry at dusk. Lord, they’re hungry.
When they finally come tearing into their stalls, chickens scatter.
The donkeys imagine they have tossed away
overstuffed burlap sacks and water jugs and gourds,
kicked through baskets and bird
cages in a dusty marketplace.
(I know it’s a lot of ass!) BJC
by Bonnie Jo Campbell
Campbell, a Portage Michigan author and poet was a finalist for the National Book Award in 2009 for her collection of short stories “American Salvage”. Her book “Oncce Upon a River was named a Michigan Notable Book in 2012. The photo of Bonnie Jo and her donkey Don Quixote was taken by Chris Magson. Campbell is wearing a shirt by Donkey Girl Shirts. Read more about Campbell here.
