PALM SUNDAY
The unwanted bray,
Uncouth, uncontrolled
Erupts from this embarrassment
Of an animal in sudden surprise
Heads turn, and the butt of derision
Plods doggedly unaware
Of good grooming and the dignity
Of the occasion
The creature lacks all proportion
Stands small
So the feet of its cargo
Scuff the dirt track
The servile heartbeat
Matches its rider’s
Slow pulse of peace
While the crowd breathes in
The scent of the poor
The grit of its coat
Blends unseen in the hills
It will haul what is needed
Tread paths into trade routes
Carry the wounded
Over rocky terrain
A convenient beast which
Asks little in terms of water
But the ass lacks the class
Of omnipotence
Expectations unmet
Hover ready to fall
As minds change
The oversize ears flick a fly
Unperturbed
By the noise
Mud at the wall 