by Piet Hein
Man’s a kind
of Missing Link,
fondly thinking
he can think.
THE ROAD TO WISDOM
The road to wisdom?—Well, it’s plain
and simple to express:
Err
and err
and err again
but less
and less
and less.
THAT IS THE QUESTION
Hamlet Anno Domini.
Co-existence
or no existence.
BRIDGE OR TUNNEL?
Channel project.
A tunnel would be possible,
a bridge would also do,
but wouldn’t it be better to
amalgamate the two?
Let bridge and tunnel undulate
in waves from shore to shore,
keeping green the memories
of those who went before
LOSING FACE
The noble art of losing face
may one day save the human race
and turn into eternal merit
what weaker minds would call disgrace.
A PSYCHOLOGICAL TIP
Whenever you’re called on to make up your mind,
and you’re hampered by not having any,
the best way to solve the dilemma, you’ll find.
is simply by spinning a penny.
No—not so that chance shall decide the affair
while you’re passively standing there moping;
but the moment the penny is up in the air,
you suddenly know what you’re hoping.
MORE HASTE
Inscription for a monument at the crossroads.
Here lies, extinguished in his prime,
a victim of modernity:
but yesterday he hadn’t time—
and now he has eternity.
40
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.
A MOMENT’S THOUGHT
As eternity
is reckoned
there’s lifetime
in a second.
LIVING IS—
Living is
a thing you do
now or never
which do you?
Index of Titles
A Maxim for Vikings
A Moment’s Thought
A Psychological Tip
A Toast
A Word to the Wise
An Ethical Grook
An Ode to Modesty
Ars Brevis
Atomyriades
Bridge or Tunnel?
Circumscripture
Consolation Grook
Defence Wanted
Dream Interpretation
Experts
Foretaste With Aftertaste
Getting Down to Fundamentals
Grook on Long-Winded Authors
Grook to Stimulate Gratitude
Hint and Suggestion
If You Know What I Mean
I’d Like—
Lest Fools Should Fail
Lilac Time
Living Is—
Losing Face
Majority Rule
Making Sense
Mankind
Meeting the Eye
Missing Link
More Haste
My Faith in Doctors
Naive—
Omniscience
On Problems
Our Noblest Achievement
Out of Time
Past Pluperfect
Prayer
Problems
Road Sense
Simply Assisting God
Social Mechanism
T. T. T.
That Is the Question
The Case for Obscurity
The Cure for Exhaustion
The Double-Door Effect
The Eternal Twins
The Miracle of Spring
The Road to Wisdom
The True Defence
Index of First Lines
A poet should be of the old-fashioned meaningless brand
A tunnel would be possible
As eternity is reckoned
As Pastor X steps out of bed
As things so very often are
Co-existence
Corinna’s scanty evening dress
Double-doors are justified
Everything’s either
Experts have
God save us, now they’re murdering
Here is a fact
Here lies, extinguished in his prime
His party was the Brotherhood of Brothers
I am a humble artist
I’d like to know
I see
If no thought
In International Consequences
It will steadily shrink
Knowing what
Let the world pass in its time-ridden race
Life makes sense
Living is
Long-winded writers I abhor
Losing on
e glove
Man’s a kind
Men, said the Devil
My faith in doctors
My old clock used to tell the time
Naive you are
Nature
Our choicest plans
Problems worthy
Put up in a place
Sometimes
Sun that givest all things birth
Taking fun
Talking of successful rackets
The human spirit sublimates
The lilacs are flowering, sweet and sublime
The noble art of losing face
The only defence
The past,—well, it’s just like
The road to wisdom?—Well, it’s plain
The soul may be a mere pretence
There is one art
True wisdom knows
We glibly talk
We must expect posterity
When people always
Whenever you’re called on to make up your mind
You’ll probably find
