Wild Knight and Other Poems — The Donkey

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.