Descartes, Spinoza, and the Buridan's Ass

Free will or fate, which is it?

Descartes and Spinoza debate
On Buridan's ass and its fate
One says it's dead, the other alive
But both agree it's in a state

Of apathy, or so it seems
Indifference to all it perceives
Unable to tell what it should do
Just stuck there, like a broken dream

A mule with a mind of its own
Or so it would appear
If only it could think and act
Maybe it would get out of here!

Free will or fate, which is it?
You tell me, oh philosopher
Is the ass simply a victim
Of circumstance or nature?

Spinoza says it's all determined
Descartes that it could be free
But they both agree on one thing
The ass is in a state of pure misery

How will poor ass get out
Descartes and Spinoza argue
It's stuck there with no way out
Between them, they can't seem to figure it out!

Can Descartes liberate the ass
Or will Spinoza be right in the end?
Only time will tell us
For now, the ass is in suspense.