[Graybeard]

Brief Reflection on Accuracy

Fish
Always accurately know where to move and when,
and likewise
birds have an accurate built-in time sense
and orientation.

Humanity, however,
Lacking such instincts resorts to scientific
research.

Its nature is illustrated by the following
occurrence.

A certain soldier
had to fire a cannon at six o’clock sharp every evening.
being a soldier he did so. When his accuracy was
investigated he explained:

I go by
the absolute accurate chronometer in the window
of the clockmaker down in the city. Every day at seventeen
forty-five I set my watch by it and
climb the hill where my cannon stands ready.
At seventeen fifty-nine precisely I step up to the cannon
and at eighteen hours sharp I fire.

And it was clear
That this method of firing was absolutely accurate.
All that was left was to check that chronometer. So
the clockmaker down in the city was questioned about
his instrument’s accuracy.

Oh, said the clockmaker,
this is one of the most accurate instruments ever, just
imagine,
for many years now a cannon has been fired at six o’clock
sharp.
And every day I look at this chronometer
and always it shows exactly six.

So much for accuracy.

And fish move in the water, and from the skies
comes a rushing of wings while
Chronometers tick and cannon boom.

By Miroslav Holub
Translated from the Czech by Ewald Osers