Grook Power

by debgrant

Grook Power by debgrant

I was in high school when I discovered the writings of scientist and poet, Piet Hein. His books are all out of print now. He lived from 1905 to 1996. He was a quirky fellow. I wanted to introduce you to him lest his imprint on our humanity fades away.

During World War II, Piet Hein found himself confronted with a dilemma when the Germans occupied Denmark. He felt that he had three choices: Do nothing, flee to neutral Sweden or join the Danish resistance movement. He joined the Resistance.

Taking as his first weapon the instrument with which he was most familiar, the pen, he wrote and had published his first "grook" (Danish: gruk). It passed the censors who did not grasp its real meaning.

CONSOLATION GROOK

Losing one glove

is certainly painful,

but nothing

compared to the pain

of losing one,

throwing away the other,

and finding

the first one again.

The Danes, however, understood its importance and soon it was found as graffiti all around the country. The deeper meaning of the grook was that even if you lose your freedom ("losing one glove"), do not lose your patriotism and self-respect by collaborating with the Nazis ("throwing away the other"), because that sense of having betrayed your country will be more painful when freedom has been found again someday.

Peace,

debgrant