My Prayer-Poem for the 35th Day of Lent, Tuesday 23 March 2021

The Donkey (inspired by a philosophical scenario by JL Austin)


They share a common field
and graze, innocent and content;
two donkeys, living life
with suitable and contemplative ease.
One day the owner of the one
wakes angry with the world
and as as he mutters and spits
in the vicinity of his breakfast
he concludes that his donkey is
unacceptably unacceptable.
With his rifle he draws a bead
and with a vengeful crack
the brute falls dead.
On closer inspection the farmer finds
that he has despatched the wrong donkey
and meekly appears at the owner’s door
with the remains.
But how to word the apology -
“It was a mistake!” or “it was an accident!”
Re-running the events,
he goes to shoot his donkey as before,
draws a bead and fires
but as he does so the donkey moves
and the wrong donkey falls.
Again the scene on the doorstep;
what to say, “mistake” or “accident”?


©️Mark Andrew Smith
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