mindful of limits

Was prompted to quickly read through the pictured translation of some of Zbigniew Herbert's work (he is probably Poland's most well-known poet/writer), over the holiday-period ...

... I've had this 1985 translated book of ten essays, since not long after its publication in English (it was originally published in Polish in 1962); and re-reading it has prompted me to look again at some of Herbert's poetry - here's a personal favourite:


Pebble

The pebble
is a perfect creature

equal to itself
mindful of its limits

filled exactly
with a pebbly meaning

with a scent that does not remind one of anything
does not frighten anything away does not arouse desire

its ardour and coldness
are just and full of dignity

I feel a heavy remorse
when I hold it in my hand
and its noble body
is permeated by false warmth

Pebbles cannot be tamed
to the end they will look at us
with a calm and very clear eye

---

Zbigniew Herbert (1924 – 1998)

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