Saturday, November 24, 2007
Zbigniew Herbert
Revelation
Two perhaps three
times
I was sure
I would touch the essence
and would know
the web of my formula
made of allusions as in the Phaedo
had also the rigour
of Heisenberg’s equation
I was sitting immobile
with watery eyes
I felt my backbone
fill with quiet certitude
earth stood still
heaven stood still
my immobility
was nearly perfect
the postman rang
I had to pour out the dirty water
prepare tea
Siva lifted his finger
the furniture of heaven and earth
started to spin again
I returned to my room
where is that perfect peace
the idea of a glass
was being spilled all over the table
I sat down immobile
with watery eyes
filled with emptiness
i.e. desire
If it happens to me once more
I shall be moved neither by the postman’s bell
nor by the shouting of angels
I shall sit
immobile
my eyes fixed
upon the heart of things
a dead star
a black drop of infinity
Translated from the Polish by Czeslaw Milosz & Peter Dale Scott
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