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Poetry Archives

A continuing selection of classic and contemporary poems.

The Donkey

G. K. Chesterton

When fishes flew and forests walked
  And figs grew upon thorn,
Some moment when the moon was blood
  Then surely I was born;

With monstrous head and sickening cry
  And ears like errant wings,
The devil’s walking parody
  On all four-footed things.

The tattered outlaw of the earth,
  Of ancient crooked will;
Starve, scourge, deride me: I am dumb,
  I keep my secret still.

Fools! For I also had my hour;
  One far fierce hour and sweet:
There was a shout about my ears,
  And palms before my feet.
Online text © 1998-2008 Poetry X. All rights reserved.
From The Wild Knight and Other Poems | Grant Richards, 1900
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