KOAN FOR A CULTURAL BUREAUCRAT Poem by Jan Erik Vold

Mr. Jaroslav Seifert
received the Nobel Prize, a sad blow
to his country's
authorities who unwillingly

found themselves
forced to accept
at least
a small portion of his poems

translated into
other
tongues. A high-ranking official
comes to visit

the poet in his home, asking
the 83-year-old man to understand
the difficult decision
the Cultural Committee is faced with, having to select

the proper poems. Mr. Seifert, patiently
listening, agrees to
everything
said. All of a sudden

he asks the man from the
Administration: Do you happen to recall
who was the Minister of Culture
under Balzac? The bureaucrat, somewhat

puzzled, is taken aback
and has to admit
that no, he doesn't. Well, Mr. Seifert said, there
we are.