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.
[Recently translated from boy soprano to baritone, I sang this with three other
classmates (a cappella) at our annual school concert in the Auckland Town Hall
before a thousand bewildered parents.
Just bringing it again to mind I feel a constriction in my throat.
I am dumb, we bellowed.
Max in Melbourne]
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