Brayer
       

From four fields down this morning, the Walkers' mule
is braying as if he's had enough, as if he'll kick off
the human arms bringing his burden, as if he'll have
no more of those days he works straight through.

Here is a flower. And here is an imperial moth.
Here is a kitten playing with a tennis ball. Here
is the shooter taken without incident. And here
is a child. Here is a congressman calling for prayer.

There goes the Walkers' mule again, unbowing his head,
stretching his muscled neck, and letting out a bray
like a peal of trumpet and kettledrum as if he could make,
by breath or will, yesterday's burden dissolve today.

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Copyright © 2022 Dan Albergotti All rights reserved
from The Greensboro Review
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