Spanish Donkey by James McIntyre
A peasant in Spain owns a clever and strong donkey that assists him in selling milk in town. The donkey is not only hardworking but also mischievous, often ringing doorbells to attract customers. When the peasant falls ill, he believes in the donkey's ability to continue selling milk. The donkey takes on the responsibility, ensuring that milk is delivered to customers, even without the peasant's guidance. The town's mayor learns of the situation and emphasizes the importance of fair dealings, ensuring that all transactions are honest. The donkey successfully sells the milk, and once the peasant recovers, the community continues to support him by paying fairly for the milk. The narrative highlights themes of trust, community support, and the cleverness of the donkey in overcoming challenges.
By James McIntyre · First published 1970 · Genre: Poetry, Children's Literature, Fable · 223 words
First lines
In Spain full oft the little donkey Is misehievous as a monkey, But Spanish peasant owned a prize, A donkey was both strong and wise.
Peasant drove him each day to town, And sold his milk both up and down;
And where his customers did dwell, The peasant he did ring door bell.
But he was struck down by fever, And he was a strong believer That the donkey milk could sell, And at each house would pull the bell.
What this Textopian page supports
Spanish Donkey is listed on Textopian as a poem by James McIntyre, dated 1970 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: James McIntyre
- Date: 1970 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Children's Literature, Fable, Humor, Adventure
- Length: 223 words
- Structure: 1 section, 9 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Spanish Donkey by James McIntyre
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing rhyme and meter typical of poetry.
- Children's Literature — The simple language and moral themes make it suitable for a young audience.
- Fable — The story conveys a moral lesson about honesty and community, characteristic of fables.
- Humor — The mischievous nature of the donkey and the light-hearted tone contribute to a humorous narrative.
Tags
Satire · Fiction · Novel · Comedy · Literary Fiction · Social Commentary · Humor · Irony · Absurdity · Dark Comedy · Critique of Society · Poetic Prose