Friday, September 02, 2022
Ocular Revelations
John and Bogdana Carpenter, from "Conversation on Writing Poetry: An Interview with Zbigniew Herbert," Manhattan Review 3.2 (1984):
Hat tip: Eric Thomson.
Newer› ‹Older
Q: When did you lose your faith in the reformability of the system? In 1949 with the beginning of Stalinism in Poland, or before 1956? After 1956? After 1968, 1970? When?For ab oculos (an eyesore to a Latinist) read ad oculos.
A: I have known this since September 20, 1939. When I came into contact with the Soviets in Lwów, as a boy. I cannot stop wondering at certain intellectuals. I had my revelations ab oculos. And not through Marx or Lenin. The city was changed within a few days into a concentration camp. This system attacks a European through smells and tastes; while I am a partisan of goodness and beauty, I don't have a model for the happiness of humanity. My advice is: compare the smell, the state of the street, people's eyes, as I did in 1939.
Hat tip: Eric Thomson.
