“Write something from the donky’s point of view”
The Chorus of the Big Bend in Fort Stockton is in their third year. Alex Cordero, the group’s director is talented and creative. I thought perhaps he’d lost his mind when he asked me to write a piece for the 2019 Christmas concert. “Write something from the donkey’s point of view.”
This was a new “writing to spec” assignment for me. But through much prayer, and inspired by our concert theme, “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” the poem took shape.
The poem was read by Ken Ripley between choral pieces “O Magnum Mysterium” (the mystery of the animals at the Nativity) and “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.” (Daniel Elder)
BEAST OF BURDEN BY JODY DAY
Every day my life the same,
Beast of burden is my name.
I do the work my master wills,
Eat my food, sleep standing still.
Until one cold and brilliant night
I heard a sound from up – the heights;
Whispers, whispers from afar
Sang “You are chosen, yes, you are,
To take the master to the place
Where yearns the broken human race.
So on the morn and with the dew,
You must go, it falls to you.”
Whispers, whispers from afar
How I wonder what you are
Thought I know not how you sing
I will be this offering
So when the sun came peeping out
I became the master’s scout,
Trekking far across the land
To fair and tiny Bethlehem.
Then I heard upon the wind
The voice that spoke to me again,
“Careful, careful where you walk
The mother feels each dip and rock,
Take her where the angels sing,
She is the mother of the King,
Careful now, don’t let her fall
She carries Grace for one and all.”
Whispers, voices from the stars
How I wonder what you are
Though I know not how you speak
Help me find the place they seek.
Soon was born the baby King
With sights that I had never seen.
Even I, a lowly beast
Joined in heaven’s worship feast.
“Beast of burden, you’ve been true,
Now I have a gift for You.
It is your seed who’ll take me in
Triumphant to Jerusalem.
No more shall they call you beast
But servant to the very least,
For in my Kingdom I must bring
Those who do the thankless things.”
Creator of both beast and man
I will serve those from your hand
Who carry burdens on their back
Those who mourn, and those who lack
Now with heaven I proclaim
Glory, for He changed my name
I will praise for all to see
For I know- that He- knows- me.
