Read Grooks Online

Authors: Piet Hein

Tags: #Poetry

Grooks (5 page)

BOOK: Grooks
5.27Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads
A WORD TO THE WISE

let the world pass in its time-ridden race:

never get caught in its snare.

Remember, the only acceptable case

for being in any particular place

is having no business there.

MEETING THE EYE

You’ll probably find

that it suits your book

to be a bit cleverer

than you look.

Observe that the easiest

method by far

is to look a bit stupider

than you are.

IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN

A poet should be of the

old-fashioned meaningless brand:

obscure, esoteric, symbolic,—

the critics demand it;

so if there’s a poem of mine

that you do understand

I’ll gladly explain what it means

till you don’t understand it.

THE CASE FOR OBSCURITY

On Thoughts and Words I.

If no thought

your mind does visit.

make your speech

not too explicit.

LEST FOOLS SHOULD FAIL

True wisdom knows

it must comprise

some nonsense

as a compromise.

lest fools should fail

to find it wise.

GROOK ON LONG-WINDED AUTHORS

Long-winded writers I abhor,

and glib. prolific chatters;

give me the ones who tear and gnaw

their hair and pens to tatters:

who find their writing such a chore

they only write what matters.

OUT OF TIME

A holiday thought.

My old clock used to tell the time

and subdivide diurnity;

but now it’s lost both hands and chime

and only tells eternity.

AN ODE TO MODESTY

Talking of successful rackets

modesty deserves a mention.

Exclamation marks in brackets

never fail to draw attention.

THE CURE FOR EXHAUSTION

Sometimes, exhausted

with toil and endeavour,

I wish I could sleep

for ever and ever;

but then this reflection

my longing allays:

I shall be doing it

one of these days.

I’D LIKE—

I’d like to know

what this whole show

is all about

before it’s out.

A MAXIM FOR VIKINGS

Here is a fact

that should help you to fight

a bit longer:

Things that don’t act-

ually kill you outright

make you stronger.

MAKING SENSE

Life makes sense

and who could doubt it,

if we have

no doubt about it.

BOOK: Grooks
5.27Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

Other books

The Inner Room by Claire Thompson
Unnatural by Michael Griffo
Flight or Fright: 17 Turbulent Tales by Stephen King (ed), Bev Vincent (ed)
Wolfsgate by Porter, Cat
Around the Way Girls 9 by Moore, Ms. Michel