There is a stone that I wear called Azeztulite. A common looking stone, quartz, that is said to be unnoticed by the unaware but treasured by the wise. Awareness is a wondrous thing, and since I have been "aware" of donkeys and the Sanctuary many amazing things have happened in my life! So I try, in this poem, to convey wonder and thank the Sanctuary for giving me (giving us all) a sovereign seat in the presence of treasured commonality with donkeys.

Divining Donkeys

There I was, or so I found myself,
Always searching for my "almost" Grail.
And I think now it was because
I need look no further than my name.
My heart, not noticing for so many years
It's sovereign seat, existing silent,
There in front of me.
I never thought all my wanderings might
Lead me to a Donkey's name, my name,
To follow me on the road of life.
Roaming over my hills and leas
With smiles and tears to some degree
I found myself one day, intuitively -
In the presence of Donkey commonality.
My new awareness filled with pure gold,
As I embraced my name of old,
All things became extremely good and clear
And unusually lovely to behold.
I find in a Donkey, healing pure
A humble grace, in this equine cure.
Enlightenment comes in many ways
And like Prince Mishkin, I surely found
Understanding in a Donkey's bray.
So onward as a child I'll go
Taking residence within my elfin Donkey crew
Immured by their discerning smiles
I'll linger there for an eternal while,
And with my diviner's hands I'll wisely search
For my oasis underneath,
Nestling with them in the hay.
My soul, with a Donkey's slow diligence
Will converge expressed or still
And admit scarcely to itself -
All these long endeavors are to share
Something of me
That you might find there.