My Donkey Spirit Steps through My Body to Take Up the Slack

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At some point, the body cannot pull its cart,

struggles against the straps, sinks into the muck,

struggles again and falls. The body cannot pull the cart

so it becomes the cart, while the spirit steps down

from the seat, picks up the cart and hauls. No straps,

no wheels, the axles shot, the nails rusted in the rotted wood,

the spirit hoists his old friend up, brays and yanks

his foot from the mud. The mud says not long now.

The body says a little longer. The donkey says

leave it to me, friend, I know how to carry us home.