[MD] Justice or Peace (No Peace No Justice)

MarshaV valkyr at att.net
Fri Dec 28 22:39:12 PST 2012



The Envoy of Mr Cogito 
            by  Zbigniew Herbert

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
among those with their backs turned and those toppled in the dust

 you were saved not in order to live
 you have little time you must give testimony

 be courageous when the mind deceives you be courageous
 in the final account only this is important

and let your helpless Anger be like the sea
whenever your hear the voice of the insulted and beaten

let you sister Scorn not leave you 
for the informers executioners cowards - they will win
they will go to your funeral with relief will throw a lump of earth 
the woodborer will write your smoothed-over biography 

and do not forgive truly it is not in your power 
to forgive in the name of those betrayed at dawn 

beware however of unnecessary pride 
keep looking at your clown's face in the mirror 
repeat: I was called - weren't there better ones than I 

beware of dryness of heart love the morning spring 
the bird with an unknown name the winter oak 
light on a wall the splendour of the sky 
they don't need your warm breath 
they are there to say: no one will console you 

be vigilant - when the light on the mountains gives the sign- arise and go 
as long as blood turns in the breast your dark star 

repeat old incantations of humanity fables and legends 
because this is how you will attain the good you will not attain 
repeat great words repeat them stubbornly 
like those crossing the desert who perished in the sand 

and they will reward you with what they have at hand 
with the whip of laughter with murder on a garbage heap 

go because only in this way you will be admitted to the company of cold skulls 
to the company of your ancestors: Gilgamesh Hector Roland 
the defenders of the kingdom without limit and the city of ashes 

Be faithful Go
 
 
 
 
 




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