- in which Franz Kafka
ascends into heaven and
meets the analysts -
I told him, "You're right, it's an honor. I should be
happy, as you've said. Just like the seven
dwarves, with my name carved in at the foot of my bed.
But along with the distinction you've included
this insult, this taunt. I'm supposed to want.
But what am I supposed to want? Simply to want?"
He replied, "You don't even know what you're in for
yet, and all this noise. You know we know you've
hoped as we did to be thus removed from your toys.
You're here. Why bother as to the how and wherefore?"
I answered hoarsely, "Let's say I fail to
continue to produce. Will I be forcibly
removed at the unpredictable peal of some
mysterious twelfth?" And he: "Hell, all we
want is that you want to want something from yourself!"
[Previous: The Wanderer of the Earth]
[Next: Schoenberg's Second String Quartet]