"REMEMBER THE LORD"
BY KATHE CAMPBELL
THERE'S ANOTHER HIKE IN THE PRICE OF HAY,
MY DONKEY SAID TO HIS FRIEND ONE DAY.
APPLES AND CARROTS ARE ALSO SKY-HIGH,
WITH TURNIPS N' WHEAT, BARLEY AND RYE.
CAN'T HELP BUT NOTICE MY MASTER'S SAD EYES,
AS THE COST OF MY LIVERY CONTINUES TO RISE.
HE LOSES HIS COOL MORE THAN EVER BEFORE,
AND THIS HURTS ME RIGHT DOWN TO THE CORE.
WHEN I GO TO THE LEFT, HE PULLS TO THE RIGHT,
NO DOUBT HE THINKS I'M NOT VERY BRIGHT.
HE MIXES 'GIDDAP' WITH EXPRESSIONS OF 'HO',
I NEVER KNOW WHETHER TO STOP OR TO GO.
AT TIMES I'M TEMPTED TO RUN STRAIGHT AWAY,
I'M TORN BY DRIVES OF TO GO OR TO STAY.
I PRAY FOR THE STRENGTH TO BRAVELY ENDURE,
THE THINGS IN MY LIFE I KNOW IN CAN'T CURE.
BUT GRIT AND PATIENCE SEES ME THROUGH,
FOR MAN FORGETS HE HAS A MASTER TOO.
THOUGH HE MAY THINK ME OF LITTLE WORTH,
I CARRIED HIS MASTER TO A PLACE OF BIRTH.
OH TO PICK UP MY EARS AND WALK WITH PRIDE,
WHILE CARRYING THE LORD ON HIS LAST RIDE.
SCORNED AND THORNED AND TIED TO A TREE,
STAY-THIRSTING AND FORGIVING-EVEN AS HE.
I RECALL MY MOM AND THE TRAINING SHE GAVE,
TRADITIONAL DIRECTIONS ON HOW TO BEHAVE.
SHE OFTEN QUOTED AN OLD DONKEY SAYING,
"REMEMBER THE LORD IN YOUR EVERYDAY BRAYING"!
AUTHOR'S NOTE: MY HUSBAND AND I RAISE LARGE NATIONAL HALL OF FAME DONKEYS ON OUR RANCH IN THE MOUNTAINS SOUTH OF BUTTE, MT. OUR ADVENTURES WITH AND OUR LOVE FOR THESE CRITTERS HAS KEPT US VERY CONTENT SENIOR CITIZENS. IF ANIMALS TRULY PROLONG LIFE, THEN WE SHOULD LIVE FOREVER. KC
