The history of my stupidity would fill many volumes.
Some would be devoted to acting against consciousness,
Like the flight of a moth which, had it known,
Would have tended nevertheless toward the candle’s flame.
Others would deal with ways to silence anxiety,
The little whisper which, thought it is a warning, is ignored.
I would deal separately with satisfaction and pride,
The time when I was among their adherents
Who strut victoriously, unsuspecting.
But all of them would have one subject, desire,
If only my own — but no, not at all; alas,
I was driven because I wanted to be like others.
I was afraid of what was wild and indecent in me.
The history of my stupidity will not be written.
For one thing, it’s late. And the truth is laborious.
Berkeley, 1980.
(Czeslaw Milosz)
More Poetry from Czeslaw Milosz:
Czeslaw Milosz Poems based on Topics: Time, Thought & Thinking, Truth, Mind, History, Desire, Stupidity, Pride- Child of Europe (Czeslaw Milosz Poems)
- Annalena (Czeslaw Milosz Poems)
- Christopher Robin (Czeslaw Milosz Poems)
- And Yet The Books (Czeslaw Milosz Poems)
- A Hall (Czeslaw Milosz Poems)
- By the Peonies (Czeslaw Milosz Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Mind Poems, Time Poems, Thought & Thinking Poems, Truth Poems, Pride Poems, Desire Poems, Stupidity Poems, History PoemsBased on Keywords: ignored, anxiety, strut, berkeley, unsuspecting, indecent, laborious, separately, victoriously, adherents