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Love at First Sight
4 n, i. d, C+ `: A/ m" yby Wislawa Szymborska, ]2 n: K0 i( K; O1 ~) K. T; |2 E( n
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+ |6 K9 C# ~3 W# Q/ f1 b: kThey both thought. D/ e" d) f! G T& @& Z
that a sudden feeling had united them" c0 X2 p* C7 H- k& L5 ?
This certainty is beautiful,0 F3 z3 F. R: }1 V
Even more beautiful than uncertainty.
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$ u5 l( C4 W1 |5 CThey thought they didn't know each other,: H/ y$ O+ E& A. Q
nothing had ever happened between them,# \8 t# _7 h3 s; A' d% s
These streets, these stairs, this corridors,
8 s% i/ ?/ i( u) ]/ FWhere they could have met so long ago?
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, h3 s5 O& f) BI would like to ask them,9 S+ t3 n% U& ^9 E3 `) R4 y
if they can remember -# z9 |- n/ y9 g" s
perhaps in a revolving door
! C5 r+ l @( E0 P& Wface to face one day?
& b& |/ J! u. Q, L0 o: LA "sorry" in the crowd?
/ r2 z7 W: Y! D# Q5 l6 D8 \+ J U* h"Wrong number" on the 'phone?
) _5 {; c8 _0 c8 H* v- but I know the answer.6 G+ U, `0 J. ] x$ T- s8 B* K. e
No, they don't remember.
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- j! Y2 V* Q9 ?! U" U8 w/ Q4 w1 Q5 eHow surprised they would be
! F$ B) D6 k J& _1 dFor such a long time already
% D) o& D0 }$ k0 ?4 V2 WFate has been playing with them.6 X& ~( C5 _9 X5 R N2 T
- N: h/ R! V# `5 [: l9 C7 D8 iNot quite yet ready3 @' E; K- v. a, i9 A
to change into destiny,
U7 V- b* r8 F- `8 R* x& dwhich brings them nearer and yet further,$ Z, P8 n: z: K/ C; ], @
cutting their path' [1 K( `# u# f, K& p
and stifling a laugh,/ Q- U% L. u3 F% B
escaping ever further;
9 `5 B0 s4 M( f0 wThere were sings, indications,
6 ?6 ?2 ?/ G5 J$ J. Kundecipherable, what does in matter.% W$ h& z& L) l
Three years ago, perhaps
! O( e' H( k$ dor even last Tuesday,: J9 C# K& ^. X' C3 Q8 [ O
this leaf flying4 w6 Z q1 ? o% i
from one shoulder to another?
! ?3 d# k. n/ R1 {+ hSomething lost and gathered.
1 K- P3 O+ {5 Y. @Who knows, perhaps a ball already
4 Q: H$ j4 f% F. T3 M8 x4 d. ^5 W3 T, zin the bushes, in childhood?5 |6 ~0 F2 F3 q3 H
- N4 O3 L5 d j* ?% ZThere were handles, door bells,
' a# Z0 ]# Y; b! Xwhere, on the trace of a hand,
/ o: P* d+ W# fanother hand was placed;& G$ Y3 U5 J2 N$ b( H
suitcases next to one another in the
+ y: l# B) {$ b& m& Bleft luggage.$ S1 N; I. K+ q% b* U
And maybe one night the same dream ~6 b% E* a* E: v0 p1 O
forgotten on walking;! X% I7 q$ `" Q- I
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But every beginning
2 \* z& j S Z/ Q' tis only a continuation
9 R# w$ v# n0 i3 S# ~! gand the book of fate is: X3 D/ w% ^( `
always open in the middle.$ Y: U6 q: u% L" n6 V9 W9 t0 b9 P
Translation from Polish by Roman Gren
! H5 Z' ~5 w3 T2 \5 XTranslation from French by Sarah Hardenberg |
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