Charles, a long time ago
donkeys were horses
who couldn’t keep up with the herd,
grazed together along fences,
curling lips in disgust and envy,
began to stick their noses
near other horse’s haunches,
stretched their ears to listen
to what stallions snorted
before mating with mares
until their ears grew very long,
sprouted into points
They brayed secretively
to one another,
snickered conspiracies,
plotted against studs,
hee hawed evangelical,
and became horse’s asses