the sensible say
you can coexist
with the monster
just try to avoid
violent gestures
violent speech
when threatened
take on the form
of a stone or leaf
obey wise Nature
who urges mimicry
breathe shallowly
play we’re not here
Mr. Cogito however
dislikes living as-if
he’d like to fight
the monster
on solid ground
—Zbigniew Herbert, from “Mr. Cogito’s Monster,” The Collected Poems 1956-1998
Chris Bronsk 