Birth Quote by Gilbert 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.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: The Man Who Was Thursday, 1908
The poem uses surreal, mythic imagery to convey a feeling of alienation and inner turmoil, suggesting the self can feel monstrous and out of place.
In simple terms: It describes a strange, unsettling inner world.
Key Takeaway
Acknowledge and explore feelings of alienation.
Themes
identity
alienation
mythic imagery
Mood
melancholic
introspective
Type
poetic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal crisis
- creative writing
- nightmares
- spiritual questioning
Key Concepts
existential dread
self‑perception
Questions to Reflect On
- What personal experiences echo this sense of otherness?
- How can you transform monstrous feelings into growth?
A Different Perspective
The imagery may be too abstract for practical coping.
