The Pebble

The pebble
is a perfect creature

equal to itself
mindful of its limits

filled exactly
with a pebbly meaning

with a scent that does not remind one of anything
does not frighten anything away does not arouse desire

its ardour and coldness
are just and full of dignity

I feel a heavy remorse
when I hold it in my hand
and its noble body
is permeated by false warmth

--Pebbles cannot be tamed
to the end they will look at us
with a calm and very clear eye

Zbigniew Herbert (1924 - 1998)

A pebble …
… evolved over many years to become what it is today
… rejoices in the fact that it is
… mindful of its limits and is not pretentious in any way
… it is itself and that is sufficient
… it can’t be converted to something else, it is true to itself
… it does not try to adjust, amend, advise, colour, favour, frighten, desire…
… when others try to alter it … this is false to itself … remorse = feel guilty in trying
… it cannot be tamed, manipulated …

So be yourself who you are … who you are meant to be … and rejoice in that fact. Become like a pebble – well, something to think about from this concrete poem.

From Wikipedia … Zbigniew Herbert was a Polish poet, essayist, drama writer and moralist. He is one of the best known and the most translated post-war Polish writers.