Bray and Barks : A Story

On the large public television screen

put up in the heart of the town

appeared a donkey, somewhat lean

but not too docile, and dull brown.  

A news-reporter with a microphone

provoked the animal standing alone,

eager and impatient to make it say  

something in the language of its bray.  

Annoyed, it directly faced the lens

and jerked its body for ten seconds

as if to shake off all its reticence

and the embarrassing diffidence.

But to everyone’s utter bewilderment

Its jerk caused cracks on the TV screen

that fell into pieces the very next moment

leaving behind only the borders of the screen.

And lo! Jumping out of the virtual world

the donkey stood now on the ground real, 

where all stood, the ground that’s tarred.

The audience were now virtually petrified

while many in horror retreated and cried.  

Standing at arm’s length from the viewers,

it swayed its head to the right and to the left.

Then looking straight ahead and a little upward  

it released a loud bray for one full minute.

Its bray, a little too harsh and audacious,

contrary to some enthusiastic expectations,

attracted the cacophony of ire from canines

of various hues and voices, sizes and spines.  

Leashed as well as unleashed and stray,

they all frantically barked and whined  

even at the faint echo of the bray.

To scare it away they all lined.

Unperturbed, the donkey walked indifferently

Past the crowd that stood gaping awfully

while the reporter with microphone in hand

still in the empty frame did gawkily stand.

He seemed imploring but no word could be heard

and the animal turning its head backward

brayed loudly as if it said, “O you super brain!  

“Why don’t you come out of the confining frame?”

On its head the southward sun shines

as it passes by the host of hostile canines.

And I, a witness to this strange spectacle,

hurriedly record the incident in these lines.

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 July 16 - 17,  2020.