For lack of a nail the kingdom has fallen br —according to the wisdom of nursery schools—but in our kingdom br there have been no nails for a long time there aren’t and won’t be br either the small ones for hanging a picture br on a wall or large ones for closing a coffin br br but despite this or maybe because of it br the kingdom persists and is even admired by others br how can one live without a nail paper or string br bricks oxygen freedom and whatever else br obviously one can since the kingdom lasts and lasts br br people live in homes in our country not in caves br factories smoke on the steppe a train runs through the tundra br and a ship bleats on the cold ocean br there is an army and police an official seal hymn and flag br in appearance everything like anywhere in the world br br but only in appearance for our kingdom br is not a creation of nature or a human creation br seemingly permanent built on the bones of mammoths br in reality it is weak as if brought to a stop br between act and thought being and nonbeing br br what is real—a leaf and a stone—falls br but spectres live long obstinately despite br the rising and setting of the sun revolutions of heavenly bodies br on the shamed earth fall the tears of objectsbr br Zbigniew Herbertbr br