Poetry

THE OLD MAN AND THE MULE
The old mule stands in the pre-dawn light,
under the tree where she spent the night.
looking up at the cabin that sits on the hill,
waiting for the cold winter sun to drive away the chill.

The door of the cabin slowly swings back,
and the old man hobbles out to toss some hay in her rack.
She walks slowly up and stands by his side,
he reaches out and scratches her old graying hide.

They stand in the silence as the frost turns to dew,
he reaches in his vest for his first morning chew.
As they stood there together and the mule chewed her hay,
they were both dreaming of a long ago day.

At the edge of the pasture stood an old lean-to shed
where three saddles hung their leather lifeless and dead
The old man moved towards them, moving real slow
flinching at old pains from a forgotten rodeo.

He picked up an old McClellan and the rest of the tack,
and slowly adjusted it to the old mules back.
As he swung aboard she set her self for the load,
and in no hurry they went down the road.

Though both were nearly blind you couldn't really tell,
for they traveled in country they both knew well.
They stopped on a hill now desolate and bare,
where not long ago timber stood thicker then hair.

As they started for home they both knew inside,
this cold winters day would be there last ride
It's been several years since they both passed away,
and the rack has fell down where the mule ate her hay.

But when the moon is full on a cold winters nite,
and the wind is blowing from the west just right.
Whither it's true or not I've heard people say,
you can hear the old man singing and the old mule bray

By Lonnie Faubion

by, Vicky (the mulemaid) Hennager

Sleigh bells ring, are ya listenin.
In the lane, mules are glistenin.
What a wonderful sight,
they’re frosty tonight,
from rolling in their winter underwear.

Gone away, are the sand piles.
Here today, are some snow piles.
What a wonderful sight,
they’re frosty tonight,
from rolling in their winter underwear.

In the pasture, they can build a snowman,
and pretend that he is Teamster Brown.
He’ll say “ Are ya hitched up?”
They’ll say “No, man, but you can help us out down by the barn” Later on, they’ll perspire.
As they haul, wood for the fire.
And face unafraid, the angels they made while rolling in their winter underwear.

In the meadow,
They can build another snowman.
And pretend that he’s the stable clown.
They’ll have lots of fun with Mr. Snowman.
Until the mini donkeys knock him down.

And for chores, they’ll inquire,
to which loft, I’ll aspire.
To throw down some hay,
before they all bray.
After rolling in their winter underwear.

One day I thought I’d pass some time,
By surfing the net, so I went online.

I saw a white donkey that needed a home.
He had no human to call his own.

I learned his story of pain and neglect,
One look at his face and my heart just wept.

Tattered and torn, with his heart broken,
I told his picture, you won’t suffer again.

I said I would take him, if there’s a way,
Than anxiously waited for home coming day.

Shaken and scared he did his best,
To get to the pasture where he could rest.

He so wants to trust, and is gentle and kind.
Soon he will be healthy in body and mind.

To me he is beautiful and I tell him every day.
Don’t worry Wilber, you’re here to stay.

I believe that he knows he has been saved,
And that he has a home for the rest of his days.

If you would be interested in helping or giving a forever home to a donkey in need please contact; ALERT a longears rescue relay team at;

Originally man's beast of burden,
That beautiful loveable ass,
She seeks no apology, from modern technology,
It's helping her burden to pass.

The bible speaks of her mainly,
As carrying a big heavy pack,
One place she is talking, another she's walking,
With Jesus riding her back.

Next to dogs he's almost unequaled,
As beings a farmer's best friend,
When sheep are in trouble, he's there on the double,
To protect or fight to the end.

His bray will lull you to sleep,
At dawn he's wake the whole mountain,
And where he's not eating, he's thoughts are on breeding,
That's why I have fourteen and count'n.

To hear them munch hay is so soothing,
Just to watch them graze grass I relax,
And when they are nudging, my back I'm not budging,
That's how I got rid of those quacks.

I started to fasten one's halter,
She turned her head and I missed,
As I snapped the buckle, I had to chuckle,
She'd given me a big juicy kiss.

Burdened down beast I DON'T THINK SO,
Instead of laden with chores,
Their role is now shifting, by burdens they're lifting,
And I sure hope that they've lifted yours.

From the Farm: Sara, Sally, Trennie, Camela, Jackie, Toby, Jeni, August, Pebbles, Precious, Minnie, Dakota, Victory and Whiskers, the donkeys, Molly the dog, Uno the Emu, 30 little Chickens and Nelson the farmers whishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy new Year and as your family grows in the new millennium, may they have peace, joy, good health and prosperity until the next return of our Savior. 1999.

Dear Lord:
Every single evening
As I’m lying here in bed
This tiny little prayer
Keeps running through my head.
God bless my mom and dad
And other family
Keep them warm and safe from harm
For they’re so close to me.
And God, there is one more thing
I wish that you could do.
Hope you don’t mind me asking,
Bless my computer too.
Now I know that its not normal
To bless a mother board,
But listen just a second
While I explain to you ‘My Lord’
You see, that little metal box
Holds more than odds and ends
Inside those small compartments
Rest so many of my FRIENDS.
I know so much about them
By the kindness that they give
And this little scrap of metal
Takes me in to where they live.
By faith is how I know them
Much the same as you,
We share in what life brings us
And from that our friendships grew.
Please take an extra minute
From your duties up above
To bless those in my address book
That’s filled with so much love!
Wherever else this prayer may reach
To each and every friend,
Bless each e-mail inbox
And the people who hit send.
When you update your heavenly list
On your own CD-Rom
Remember each who’ve said this prayer
Sent up to God.com.
Amen

Christmas 1996

At this year's end, I'm happy to send,
A greeting to each one of you,
When in dispare, I know that you care,
By all of the things that you do.

It's hard I have heard, to find the right words,
That say what's there in my heart,
Although I do try, I don't understand why,
But I just can't find where to start.

With all of my might, I try hard to write,
but end up not even a word,
And I'll never know, if I'm just plain slow,
Or laziness has occured.

Now if I can't tell, you how that I feel,
Then may be at least I can show you,
Across the miles, I'll send you some smiles,
That say I'm sure glad I know you.

Here on the farm, you need no alarm,
If you don't wake with the chickens,
To help start your day, a donkey will brey,
And four others will sure raise the dickens.

I don't know how, that Lady the cow,
Can stand all of their pleading,
But you'd get a laugh, at Trophy her calf,
Whenever I tend to the feeding.

They all gether round, still making their sound,
Now Trophy has her own little plans,
The Donkeys eat slow, that's what she knows,
She eats hers then heads for their pans.

I grab her head, she likes that instead,
And soon I have her head swinging,
As I rub her neck, she thinks what the heck,
It's better than hearing that ass singing.

Seasons Greeting from:
Buddy Jake, my dog and companion.
Pumpkin, last of my 9 dogs, she's soon 16
Lady Lamp and Trophy, part of my first cows.
Trennie, Sara, Sally, Jackie and Toby, my lovable donkeys.
Four bantam hens and three bantam roosters, yet unnamed.
Any myself, part of the vanishing breed.
Saying: Have a very Merry Christmas.
(Thanks for being a friend, Nelson)

ODE TO LIL’ JOE