The Donkey, by G K Chesterton

Lent, Day 34

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.

Spent a good while observing and photographing the donkeys at the Donkey Sanctuary in Sutton Park, and thinking over this poem.

How some ignorant young blokes mocked the idea of a donkey sanctuary - felt like telling them the stories of the state some of these animals were in when they were found - starved and scourged - as Jesus was and remained dumb as well.

How they do look faintly ludicrous, especially when emitting their "sickening cry" - and how Jesus riding into Jerusalem would have shared in that - and CHOSE to share in it - because he knew how even more ridiculous all our posturings - trying to be dignified - are.

How we should be careful when we deride those who look monstrous or tattered to us - because they also will have their hour - and then what will we look like?

Hope you all have a perfect Palm Sunday tomorrow. Only one more week of Lent - and then I can get comments again...