20 May 2008

Donkey above Gorbio

THE DONKEY by G.K.Chesterton
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.

12 comments:

  1. That last line !!!

    Perhaps he is older than Olivier.
    (Marie's post today in Montpellier.)

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  2. un beau portrait, il semble triste cet âne.

    ".....
    Quand il vint au domaine
    Y avait un beau troupeau
    Les étables étaient pleines
    De brebis et d'agneaux

    Marchant toujours en tête
    Aux premières lueurs
    Pour tirer sa charrette
    Il mettait tout son coeur.

    Au temps des transhumances
    Il s'en allait heureux
    Remontant la Durance
    Honnête et courageux

    Mais un jour de Marseille
    Des messieurs sont venus
    La ferme était bien vieille
    Alors on l'a vendue.

    Il resta au village
    Tout le monde l'aimait bien
    Vaillant malgré son âge
    Et malgré son chagrin

    Image d'Evangile
    Vivant d'humilité
    Il se rendait utile
    Auprès du cantonnier.

    Cette vie honorable
    Un soir s'est terminée
    Dans le fond d'une étable
    Tout seul il s'est couché

    Pauvre bête de somme
    Il a fermé les yeux
    Abandonné des hommes
    Il est mort sans adieu.

    Cette chanson sans gloire
    Vous racontait la vie
    Vous racontait l'histoire
    D'un petit âne gris."
    Hugues Aufray

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  3. Wow! I could kiss him!! LOL

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  4. What a cute donkey! I would love to own one!

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  5. What a cutie!! I love that poem...

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  6. Il semble bien triste cet âne...mais je suis sûr que tu en as profité pur lui donner un peu de ton affection...

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  7. Anonymous21 May, 2008

    Wow. He is the poor man's Arabian stallion.

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  8. I love his colour and his sweet face.

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  9. He does seem to have a sweet look to him. Maybe it's that soft, long coat.

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  10. Sweet lovely Donc! I want one!

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  11. The Donc's hair up top is a bit like mine gets when i go too long between haircuts! heh heh... I look a bit like a donkey don't I? eeee aaawwwh

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  12. I was about to comment about how sad donkeys always look. But then I read the poem and changed my mind. They are indeed majestic creatures. They were, after all, Jesus' chosen means of transportation :)

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