"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 you hear the voice of the insulted and beaten

 

let your sister Scorn not leave you

for the informers executioners cowards—they will win

they will go to your funeral and 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 will you 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