Stop bemoaning the twilight
for at twilight the sky is beautiful.
Do not be seduced only by the dawn.
Whoever does not want to die of thirst
must learn to drink from all cups.
Whoever would stay clean
must learn to wash
even with dirty water.
One must look away from oneself
to see much:
this is the hardness necessary
for every climber of mountains,
this is the courage necessary
to slay vertigo and sickness
at the edge of the abyss
(and, indeed, where does man
not stand
on the brink of the abyss?
Is not seeing always
seeing the abyss?)
this is the courage necessary
to slay even death itself.
You are moving toward greatness:
that which before had been your ultimate danger
has become your ultimate refunge.
One must look away from oneself
to see much.
(he reached the other peak
at the height of the ridge
a second sea spread before
him. The night was cold,
clear, and starry at this height,
clear and starry bright.)
Whence came the highest mountains?
Out of the deepest depths
come the highest peaks.
STANDING SILENTLY
OVER THE MOCKING CLATTER OF PEBBLES
CRUSHING THE ROCK THAT MADE IT SLIP -
MY FOOT FORCED ITS WAY UPWARD, UPWARD,
ALTHOUGH THE DEVIL SAT ON ME
HALF DWARF
HALF MOLE
LAME
MAKING LAME
DRIPPING LEAD INTO MY EAR
LEADEN THOUGHTS INTO MY BRAIN
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