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La Licorne MY DONKEY |
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My father beats it, and my brothers surpass him in
that.
As
for me, I am to stay away from the donkey, or it might run me over, ...so they
say.
In
the mornings they use it for moving bags to the market.
Sitting
in the shade the lot will wait for customers to come, or hang around the place
for a chat, here and there.
To
bridge the spell for the donkey they will let it to the men of the quarry.
Those,
that will tie pairs of rocks over its back and make it go uphill to the
stock-pile on the road side.
In
the process the donkey gets a rest as long as it takes the men to gather the
boulders from its back.
Then
it will trot back to the mine, up and down, all day long.
By
the time they bring the grey-one back, Dad will be dozy from Chat and Arak, my
brothers loud from Tela.
The
unsold merchandise will be packed on the donkey, and all will reach home before
dark.
As
for myself, after the meal I will sneak over to the pen, where the donkey is
waiting for me.
There
I will tell it stories of the rich boy's donkey, whose job it was to ride the
lad, just now and then.
The
donkey listens and begs for more.
Then
I come with the story of the girl that dropped in the quarry to be saved by a
boy with a donkey.
When
I pass that one on, the donkey grins and gives me a head-nod.
The
donkey of my father is my donkey.