[“I knew almost for certain…”]
I knew almost for certain:
he had robbed all my friends,
had made my mother miserable,
and had ruined my wife’s health,
leading her to consumption.
And, full of resolve,
I set out to find him and take my revenge.
“Where are you, my torturer?”
I called through the deserted hall
in which he lives.
In response, four roars
reflected from the walls,
hit the ceiling
and, lifeless, fell to my feet.
“Where are you, my torturer?”
I called to him twice.
Each time, the four roars
arose from the dead,
went up, and hit the ground.
“Has he died?”
I decided so, happily.
But on my way home,
I saw two legs, two arms, and a torso
had stopped near my door.
(There was no head.)
“What are you doing here?”
I took him by surprise.
Out of fright, the two arms,
the two legs, and the torso
united into a headless body.
I grabbed him and shouted
into the empty pipe of his neck,
“Tell me where my torturer is!”
“Don’t beat me,” said the pipe.
“Go to the same building
where you’ve just been.
People without a head sit in the first room.
In the second one, they also lack legs.
In the third, they also don’t have arms.
In the fourth, you’ll see isolated torsos.
In the fifth room, you won’t see anything—
that’s where your torturer is.
You won’t find anything in there,
but repeat, and repeat, and repeat, ad infinitum,
everything you want to tell him.
But don’t believe your eyes:
he is where he isn’t.”
(Translated from the Ukrainian by Alan Zhukovski)
We need your support
What’s at stake this November is the future of our democracy. Yet Nation readers know the fight for justice, equity, and peace doesn’t stop in November. Change doesn’t happen overnight. We need sustained, fearless journalism to advocate for bold ideas, expose corruption, defend our democracy, secure our bodily rights, promote peace, and protect the environment.
This month, we’re calling on you to give a monthly donation to support The Nation’s independent journalism. If you’ve read this far, I know you value our journalism that speaks truth to power in a way corporate-owned media never can. The most effective way to support The Nation is by becoming a monthly donor; this will provide us with a reliable funding base.
In the coming months, our writers will be working to bring you what you need to know—from John Nichols on the election, Elie Mystal on justice and injustice, Chris Lehmann’s reporting from inside the beltway, Joan Walsh with insightful political analysis, Jeet Heer’s crackling wit, and Amy Littlefield on the front lines of the fight for abortion access. For as little as $10 a month, you can empower our dedicated writers, editors, and fact checkers to report deeply on the most critical issues of our day.
Set up a monthly recurring donation today and join the committed community of readers who make our journalism possible for the long haul. For nearly 160 years, The Nation has stood for truth and justice—can you help us thrive for 160 more?
Onwards,
Katrina vanden Heuvel
Editorial Director and Publisher, The Nation
