 鲜花( 1)  鸡蛋( 0)
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Love at First Sight8 A! b, n0 _) }0 k. L* J
by Wislawa Szymborska" d3 Q" }* Y( e
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They both thought
% A# L* M, Y: [( i! U8 c' `' R6 r5 jthat a sudden feeling had united them; l W8 M' ~5 o
This certainty is beautiful,
2 {$ A$ x) \- j/ r* F- |Even more beautiful than uncertainty.
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They thought they didn't know each other,
4 A D7 l E# Q" S& `6 pnothing had ever happened between them,
1 W! \! V) z4 |6 ^1 D' ]These streets, these stairs, this corridors,9 I8 G6 p& b2 k
Where they could have met so long ago?
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I would like to ask them,
2 r4 s# N# a) {" I5 l3 vif they can remember -" O+ [& T- o) U0 V4 {5 p7 u
perhaps in a revolving door) J. j" ^8 m- N
face to face one day?
1 ^3 k5 z7 I. u6 j8 l$ t" _A "sorry" in the crowd?
5 B1 f8 p6 o N* y0 W7 n"Wrong number" on the 'phone?) g( d1 s& L1 M8 Z/ W
- but I know the answer.# e5 _' N5 w+ [* J5 R" X
No, they don't remember.
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# Y0 F% L8 n N: g! Q& \$ j7 bHow surprised they would be9 z( M. s: g: ], ?9 \( k
For such a long time already
6 T3 B1 i2 w+ R2 X) j& `% FFate has been playing with them.+ x2 {4 l( N' `/ u6 Q8 S3 M
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Not quite yet ready3 e+ Z+ J1 U7 h/ d
to change into destiny,1 r2 t3 m4 T5 X% [7 b' r/ m
which brings them nearer and yet further,
7 P1 D% {3 |% e$ `+ wcutting their path
" j, |8 z' l' d; O7 s$ v6 }6 ^and stifling a laugh,
- u D+ s/ @2 ^3 l4 d0 ^escaping ever further;
! ^" p& ?* `* b# _3 OThere were sings, indications,
$ a* q& \' W4 T% Nundecipherable, what does in matter.
! F' {! ^$ W8 j; t5 h$ X N. a6 sThree years ago, perhaps7 q' d$ M+ f* R0 l% k
or even last Tuesday,
/ R" w! H+ v1 n. Ithis leaf flying
' P1 o" D9 ^/ Z# [8 Afrom one shoulder to another?
% K+ C' {5 W" R! f( d+ [Something lost and gathered.* ~; L1 N, L8 K' T
Who knows, perhaps a ball already
1 T& S# O3 J2 }( Q) rin the bushes, in childhood?
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There were handles, door bells,4 q6 @ w$ C' g5 i+ p9 N( x
where, on the trace of a hand,- H l5 G0 ^& {7 ?( R p
another hand was placed;
# g9 W" ~ E# h( rsuitcases next to one another in the4 [" V1 w" O- g% Y5 X$ o) e1 Z3 ~
left luggage.8 I9 i8 x$ k$ z ?
And maybe one night the same dream. c/ J" q- q2 `
forgotten on walking;9 w0 n- w9 j/ ]8 _4 N% E
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But every beginning$ [3 u4 ]7 \3 f6 |) c5 G' L
is only a continuation& s% d; S( h. E9 F( _
and the book of fate is
/ H* L0 `: e- p: S; k1 h8 galways open in the middle.
7 p7 S/ d4 ~0 C" z2 t- w3 qTranslation from Polish by Roman Gren6 o7 F. D; h# Z6 f+ x" G7 H
Translation from French by Sarah Hardenberg |
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