'The Donkey' by G.K. Chesterton
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When forests walked and fishes flew
And figs grew upon thorn,
Some moment when the moon was blood,
Then, surely, I was born.
With monstrous head and sickening bray
And ears like errant wings—
The devil's walking parody
Of all four-footed things:
The battered outlaw of the earth
Of ancient crooked will;
Scourge, beat, 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 around my head
And palms about my feet.
Submitted by Paul Clayton Smith
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Donkey by G.K. Chesterton
Have you ever read a poem that immediately made you smile? Maybe not just with your lips, but with your whole being? That's how I felt the first time I read G.K. Chesterton's "The Donkey." It's a poem about a donkey, yes, but it's also about so much more than that. It's about finding worth and beauty in the everyday, the ordinary, and the overlooked. It's about seeing things in a new light and finding joy in unexpected places. And it's about the transformative power of love.
The Poem
Before we dive into the interpretation of the poem, let's take a look at the text itself:
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.
The Interpretation
On the surface, "The Donkey" is a poem about a humble animal who finds himself at the center of one of the world's most significant moments: Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. However, as with all great art, there is much more going on beneath the surface.
The poem begins by painting a picture of a world turned upside down. Fishes fly, forests walk, and figs grow on thorn bushes. This is a world of paradox, where the impossible becomes possible. It's a fitting opening for a poem that will challenge our assumptions and invite us to look at things in a new light.
Then the speaker introduces us to the donkey, who is described in less-than-flattering terms. The donkey is a "monstrous" creature with a "sickening cry" and "ears like errant wings." He is the devil's "walking parody" of all four-footed things. The donkey is, in short, ugly and unworthy.
But then the poem takes a turn. The speaker shifts from describing the donkey's outward appearance to his inner nature. The donkey is the "tattered outlaw of the earth," a creature who has been starved, scourged, and derided. He is an outcast, an object of contempt and ridicule. But he is also a creature who keeps his secret still. He has an inner world that no one can touch.
And then, in a moment of revelation, the speaker tells us that the donkey had his hour. In the midst of his suffering and shame, the donkey had a moment of glory. There was a shout about his ears, and palms were laid before his feet. The donkey was the humble mount upon which Jesus rode into Jerusalem, and for that brief moment, he was a part of something greater than himself. He was, in fact, a key player in the salvation of the world.
What makes "The Donkey" such a powerful poem is that it invites us to see ourselves in the donkey. We have all felt like outcasts at some point in our lives, like creatures who are unworthy and unlovable. But just as the donkey has an inner world that is hidden from view, so do we. And just as the donkey had his moment of glory, so can we.
The poem is an invitation to find beauty and worth in the ordinary and the overlooked. It's a call to look at things in a new light and to be open to the possibility of transformation. And, ultimately, it's a reminder that love has the power to transform even the most humble and unworthy of creatures.
The Style
I'll admit, I'm a little biased when it comes to "The Donkey." I love this poem, and I could go on and on about its beauty and meaning. But even if you don't share my enthusiasm, I hope you can appreciate the power of Chesterton's words. He has a way of making the ordinary extraordinary and of finding the divine in the mundane.
The poem's language is simple but powerful. The repetition of the word "hour" in the final stanza gives the poem a sense of rhythm and momentum. The use of paradox and contradiction throughout the poem creates a sense of tension and surprise. And the final image of the palms before the donkey's feet is a powerful reminder of the transformative power of love.
Overall, "The Donkey" is a poem that speaks to the human experience in a profound and meaningful way. It invites us to see ourselves and the world around us in a new light and to find beauty and worth in unexpected places. And, perhaps most importantly, it reminds us that even the most humble and unworthy of creatures can be a part of something greater than themselves.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Donkey by G.K. Chesterton: A Masterpiece of Literary Craftsmanship
The Donkey, a classic poem by G.K. Chesterton, is a masterpiece of literary craftsmanship that has stood the test of time. Written in 1910, the poem is a powerful allegory that explores the themes of humility, self-sacrifice, and the true nature of heroism. In this article, we will take a detailed look at the poem, analyzing its structure, language, and symbolism to uncover the deeper meanings hidden within its verses.
Structure and Language
The Donkey is a short poem consisting of four stanzas, each with four lines. The poem is written in iambic tetrameter, a rhythmic pattern that consists of four iambs per line. An iamb is a metrical foot that consists of two syllables, with the first syllable unstressed and the second syllable stressed. The iambic tetrameter gives the poem a steady, rhythmic flow that is easy to read and remember.
The language of the poem is simple and direct, with no unnecessary words or complex metaphors. Chesterton uses plain language to convey his message, making the poem accessible to readers of all ages and backgrounds. The simplicity of the language also adds to the poem's charm and humor, as Chesterton uses witty wordplay and puns to create a lighthearted tone.
Symbolism
The Donkey is a powerful allegory that uses the image of a humble donkey to represent the true nature of heroism. The donkey is a symbol of humility and self-sacrifice, two qualities that are often overlooked in our society's obsession with fame and fortune. The poem challenges us to rethink our definition of heroism, to see that true heroism lies not in grand gestures or heroic deeds, but in the small acts of kindness and selflessness that we perform every day.
The first stanza of the poem sets the stage for the allegory, introducing the donkey as a humble and unassuming creature:
When fishes flew and forests walked And figs grew upon thorn, Some moment when the moon was blood Then surely I was born.
The image of fishes flying and forests walking is a metaphor for the impossible, highlighting the donkey's lowly status in the world. The line "Then surely I was born" suggests that the donkey is aware of his humble origins and accepts them without complaint.
The second stanza of the poem introduces the donkey's role as a beast of burden, carrying heavy loads and enduring harsh conditions:
With monstrous head and sickening cry And ears like errant wings, The devil's walking parody On all four-footed things.
The image of the donkey with a "monstrous head" and "sickening cry" is a metaphor for the burdens that we all carry in life. The donkey's ears, which are described as "errant wings," suggest that he is capable of soaring above his burdens, even if only in his imagination. The line "The devil's walking parody" suggests that the donkey is a symbol of the human condition, with all its flaws and imperfections.
The third stanza of the poem introduces the donkey's encounter with Jesus Christ, who rides him into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday:
The tattered outlaw of the earth, Of ancient crooked will; Starve, scourge, deride me: I am dumb, I keep my secret still.
The image of the donkey as a "tattered outlaw of the earth" is a metaphor for the donkey's lowly status in society. The line "Of ancient crooked will" suggests that the donkey is a symbol of the human condition, with all its flaws and imperfections. The donkey's silence in the face of starvation, scourging, and derision is a symbol of his humility and self-sacrifice, qualities that are essential to true heroism.
The fourth and final stanza of the poem concludes the allegory, with the donkey reflecting on his encounter with Christ:
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.
The line "Fools! For I also had my hour" is a rebuke to those who underestimate the donkey's importance in the grand scheme of things. The donkey's "far fierce hour and sweet" is a reference to his role in carrying Christ into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, a moment of great significance in Christian history. The "shout about my ears" and "palms before my feet" are symbols of the donkey's triumph, a reminder that true heroism is often found in the most unexpected places.
Conclusion
The Donkey by G.K. Chesterton is a masterpiece of literary craftsmanship that explores the themes of humility, self-sacrifice, and the true nature of heroism. The poem's simple language and rhythmic structure make it accessible to readers of all ages and backgrounds, while its powerful allegory challenges us to rethink our definition of heroism. The donkey is a symbol of the human condition, with all its flaws and imperfections, and his encounter with Christ on Palm Sunday is a reminder that true heroism lies not in grand gestures or heroic deeds, but in the small acts of kindness and selflessness that we perform every day.
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