 鲜花( 1)  鸡蛋( 0)
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Love at First Sight' \2 h8 b, h/ Q6 R, }+ K
by Wislawa Szymborska
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/ v* l5 T" L) O2 T* m4 x7 @They both thought
6 M% |, L/ ]+ M/ d2 i0 q- Fthat a sudden feeling had united them
. S- G0 L6 |! J# FThis certainty is beautiful,
; W. i6 D% M. d2 u) w; dEven more beautiful than uncertainty.
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They thought they didn't know each other,' x/ s2 o4 L! R# U, C
nothing had ever happened between them,
, e3 k7 c8 `9 eThese streets, these stairs, this corridors,0 E% ~% M8 h) ?1 i
Where they could have met so long ago?" B Z4 U$ H. M" L: g
# E" }; J* g. g. M4 SI would like to ask them,$ `! D; z, C2 u( i/ `; E& ]
if they can remember -
- O5 t+ c( O$ g5 X+ u6 \perhaps in a revolving door7 t5 U1 Y5 h( ~& m: F
face to face one day?: P# f8 w' t* D* B' P+ k% r
A "sorry" in the crowd?% ?4 G" R7 I3 C' `
"Wrong number" on the 'phone?
. Y7 t, g: } u- but I know the answer.: p" `& j( s" k+ f+ r( O6 e
No, they don't remember.
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How surprised they would be) I6 B6 ~1 C q' R; j( X& q
For such a long time already$ \- q g5 j. I7 {( ~
Fate has been playing with them.0 q0 d9 J# e9 z: M- V# I
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Not quite yet ready
& g! `; S, J1 O. b4 Lto change into destiny,8 O" } C2 T* [! l' B7 d
which brings them nearer and yet further,0 u( ^# [; ]) {" A' y k* }5 h2 N
cutting their path
! g( M1 v k l. ?and stifling a laugh,
2 Q3 m( F0 T* I, yescaping ever further;) k9 k/ }, I/ u- f
There were sings, indications,3 E; @; N+ j: T+ {
undecipherable, what does in matter.
4 ?( T- [9 ^4 P7 z0 v+ cThree years ago, perhaps6 X" Z' W7 v% M* y' ^& C1 c3 L
or even last Tuesday,7 [" f+ V5 |& @0 c5 V& j
this leaf flying: L2 n6 t" i( D. \
from one shoulder to another?
/ f8 w/ [. O# J6 l* U3 F4 uSomething lost and gathered." A& O2 n; J2 H3 \/ Z
Who knows, perhaps a ball already
: C6 |" {: w8 Hin the bushes, in childhood?3 P' n0 b. y2 J0 Q. j! T% e/ w0 I
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There were handles, door bells,
: Z' p4 C( x; m% Cwhere, on the trace of a hand,4 Q4 z8 F/ d* a2 |; k& u
another hand was placed;4 E' H% o" [$ H& P1 n; x( M* P
suitcases next to one another in the
$ I6 j9 j8 {5 Q/ D! y# D; aleft luggage.
1 {9 } S5 P# n* qAnd maybe one night the same dream
) Q7 Y$ y' ]! f3 z0 @$ M- Jforgotten on walking;
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( {: X; W& V- PBut every beginning
( n: {9 S- j0 E- T2 Lis only a continuation# H8 j; e' J( q4 V) e& U
and the book of fate is* f0 | Q4 f& _$ r( H0 @8 b& `- e% G
always open in the middle.
+ V1 L" ]" w5 O( C3 rTranslation from Polish by Roman Gren% W, s" ^% _& L
Translation from French by Sarah Hardenberg |
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