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 (1874-1936)
It’s Palm Sunday, a week before Easter. In the Christian tradition, a few days before he was crucified Jesus is depicted riding into Jerusalem not on a warhorse, but a mere donkey. He’s at the height of his popularity as a healer, teacher and challenger, so a crowd gathers to shout Hosanna, wave palm branches, and even spread out their cloaks in front of the hooves.
Chesterton clearly didn’t find donkeys cute! I suppose there is something a bit monstrous about the noise they make.
Mosaic, Daphni Monastery, Greece (11th century)