one by one, three, then four, the donkeys shamble into town, linger at street corners snuff choice blooms from flower beds brightening the paths in the town square someone owns the donkeys, or claims to but he sets them loose to block roads surprise & dismay tourists, nibble fruits the produce sellers shout & rush to rescue none wear straw hats or ribbon-braided manes or tails, no, the donkeys are unkempt are childhood, carnival, insolence, mayhem nights, corralled under stars, they caterwaul