The Donkey (for Palm Sunday)

THE DONKEY

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.

~G.K. Chesterton

Scenes from the Life of Christ: Entry into Jerusalem, by Giotto di Bondone. Fresco, 1304-06; Cappella Scrovegni (Arena Chapel), Padua.