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
Of all four-footed things.
The tattered outlaw of the world
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.