Hermes, Dog, and Star
by Zbigniew Herbert
Hermes goes through the world. He meets a dog.
–I am a god, Hermes introduces himself politely.
The dog sniffs at his feet.
–I feel lonely. Humans betray gods; but unknowing, mortal animals, we crave them. In the evening, after a whole day wandering, we will sit down under an oak. I will tell you then that I feel old and want to die. It will be a necessary lie, so you will lick my hands.
–All right, the dog carelessly replies, I will lick your hands. They are cool, and have a strange smell.
They walk, they walk. They meet a star.
–I am Hermes, the god says, and produces one of his best faces. Would you like to go with us to the end of the world? I will make it frightening there, so you will have to lean your head on my shoulder.
–Good, the star replies with a glassy voice. It’s all the same to me where I go; but the end of the world, that is naive. Unfortunately there is no end of the world.
They go. They go. The dog, Hermes, and the star. They hold hands. Hermes thinks that if he sets out to find friends another time, he won’t be so frank.
[translated from the polish by John Carpenter and Bogdana Carpenter]