Zbigniew Herbert Long Poems
- 1. The Trial
During his great speech the prosecutor
kept piercing me with his yellow index finger
I'm afraid I didn't appear self-assured
unintentionally I put on a mask of fear and depravity
... - 2. About Troy
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Troy O Troy
an archeologist
... - 3. The Envoy Of Mr Cogito
Go where those others went to the dark boundary
for the golden fleece of nothingness your last prize
go upright among those who are on their knees
... - 4. Why The Classics
1
in the fourth book of the Peloponnesian War
Thucydides tells among other things
the story of his unsuccessful expedition
... - 5. Nothing Special
nothing special
boards paint
nails paste
paper string
... - 6. The Monster Of Mr Cogito
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Lucky Saint George
from his knight's saddle
... - 7. The Fable About A Nail
For lack of a nail the kingdom has fallen
â??according to the wisdom of nursery schoolsâ??but in our kingdom
there have been no nails for a long time there arenâ??t and wonâ??t be
either the small ones for hanging a picture
... - 8. Report From The Besieged City
Too old to carry arms and fight like the others -
they graciously gave me the inferior role of chronicler
I record - I don't know for whom - the history of the siege
... - 9. Wasp
When the honey, fruit and flowery tablecloth were whisked from the table in one sweep, it flew off with a start. Entangled in the suffocating smoke of the curtains, it buzzed for a long time. At last it reached the window. It beat its weakening body repeatedly against the cold, solid air of the pane. In the last flutter of its wings drowsed the faith that the bodyâ??s unrest can awaken a wind carrying us to longed-for worlds.
You who stood under the window of your beloved, who saw your happiness in a shop windowâ??do you know how to take away the sting of this death?
...
