Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1918.djvu/1137

 GILBERT KEITH CHESTERTON

His sins they were forgiven him ; or why do flowers run Behind him, and the hedges all strengthening in the sun ? The wild thing went from left to right and knew not which

was which, But the wild rose was above him when they found him in

the ditch.

God pardon us, nor harden us, we did not see so clear The night we went to Bannockburn by way of Brighton Pier.

My friends, we will not go again or ape an ancient rage, Or stretch the folly of our youth to be the shame of age, But walk with clearer eyes and cars this path that wandcreth, And see undrugg'd in evening light the decent inn of death , For there is good news yet to hear and fine things to be been, Before we go to Paradise by way of Kcnsal Green.

��The Donkey

r HEN fishes flew and forests walk'd And figs grew upon thoin, 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 tatter'd outlaw of the earth,

Of ancient crooked will; Starve, scourge, deride me: I am dumb,

I keep my secret still.

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