The Donkey

Stanza I

¹When fishes flew and forests walked

²And figs grew upon thorn,

³Some moment when the moon was blood

⁴Then surely I was born.

Stanza II

⁵With monstrous head and sickening cry

⁶And ears like errant wings,

⁷The devil's walking parody

⁸On all four-footed things.

Stanza III

⁹The tattered outlaw of the earth,

¹⁰Of ancient crooked will;

¹¹Starve, scourge, deride me: I am dumb,

¹²I keep my secret still.

Stanza IV

¹³Fools! For I also had my hour;

¹⁴One far fierce hour and sweet:

¹⁵There was a shout about my ears,

¹⁶And palms before my feet.