When there were palms at my feet

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

Gilbreth Keith Chesterton, an English poet was introduced to me in this very poem in my 11th Standard. Though it seems to be short and simple, it conveys extremely deep emotions and carries a force beyond it lines.

The much ridiculed donkey here declars its superiority over man when the Messiah, the Lord, The Son of God chose it to ride into Jerusalem and no one even dared t rise voice against it. But instead prostated in front of its very paws..

I was searching for the poem today and found it. Got me back to my mugging up days of 11th when this was in the "by heart" section. :))

Never got around to forgetting it though!!

Hope you liked it..