A Perissodactyl Tale - PAD Day 22

A Perissodactyl Tale 

Since the beginning of time

the world has been largely peopled

by donkeys, burros  –

jacks and jennets

(if you know what I mean).

To this day, these beasts still abide

in a wide assortment of varieties,

(some we call stupid or smart,

wise, dumb, lazy, pompous,

obstinate… the list goes on and on)

including the most gifted of all

(those we call “total”) 

 which often manage to exhibit

a full array of these qualities (and may

be owners of large corporations

and/or holders of high offices

in the public/political arena.)

Aesop once told a plethora

of tales about these beasties.

In some stories this creature

exemplified vanity or stupidity

and suffered the consequences

of his foolish actions; in others ,

this fine animal was of great value,

a beast of burden (often serving

a questionable master), and in those

instances, the loss of the animal

was a sad fate, indeed,

for the hapless owner.

Aesop’s odd dichotomy still endures,

and ever it shall always come to pass

that one’s own personal point of view

will always define the value

of one’s ass(et).

PSC / 2017-Apr

 

My offering for Day 22 of Robert Lee Brewer's Poem-a-Day (PAD).

Assignment: a fable poem