The tsar our little father had grown old, very old. Now he could not even strangle a dove with his own hands. Sitting on his throne he was golden and frigid. Only his beard grew, down to the floor and farther.
Then someone else ruled, it was not known who. Curious folk peeped into the palace windows but Krivonosov screened the windows with gibbets. Thus only the hanged saw anything.
In the end the tsar our little father died for good. The bells rang and rang, yet they did not bring his body out. Our tsar had grown into the throne. The legs of the throne had become all mixed up with the legs of the tsar. His arm and the armrest were one. It was impossible to tear him loose. And to bury the tsar along with the golden throne – what a shame.
(Zbigniew Herbert)
More Poetry from Zbigniew Herbert:
- Elegy of Fortinbras (Zbigniew Herbert Poems)
- From the Top of the Stairs (Zbigniew Herbert Poems)
- Daedalus And Icarus (Zbigniew Herbert Poems)
- How We Were Introduced (Zbigniew Herbert Poems)
- An Answer (Zbigniew Herbert Poems)
- I Would Like to Describe (Zbigniew Herbert Poems)