Eager pilgrims seek out the Great Philosopher 1898
Let us go and see Herr Nietzsche
sitting by the window
in his empty chair
his eyes full of rock
and snow in a twist of hair.
His sister Elisabeth bids us closer still
‘He will not bite,” she murmurs.
Already his room is like a museum
and his stillness pre-empts
the art of taxidermy.
His books are dusted daily
and in a mirror I can see
an eagle rising.
In this room years from now
Elisabeth will clasp Herr Hitler’s hand
and grin for the cameras
a dirndl-witch
yet each hand will test for flesh
on the bone of myth..
“Sometimes he knew me, Sir,” she will say.
“As his end came near. At other times,
I could not tell
but his weakness let me be so much more
than his secretary.
You will understand that Sir, I’m sure
You see, I have been also a midwife
for Friedrich’s wisdom
and if it pleases you mein Fuhrer
Der Ubermensch must be strong for others
not only for himself.
And his new born words will live
forever in the triumph
of Your Will.
Image by Sebastian Boguszewicz