 鲜花( 1)  鸡蛋( 0)
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Love at First Sight
R5 W, k% L) T. {. v/ jby Wislawa Szymborska
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$ O! m( t0 m3 d8 ~They both thought7 D7 e' \5 \7 u1 ~
that a sudden feeling had united them
& r& q; {3 Z% G) W9 |This certainty is beautiful,7 k x* n8 k2 k9 V3 f6 M
Even more beautiful than uncertainty.
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They thought they didn't know each other, {* s7 W, F. G3 x4 j
nothing had ever happened between them," B8 P% N; R J+ c: |7 D1 A- X
These streets, these stairs, this corridors,0 s* ~* a% M3 K: k, i# c$ c5 @
Where they could have met so long ago?$ Z1 G* T" z- {
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I would like to ask them,8 c I% ?/ M0 ~
if they can remember -
1 w {( n. i3 Y! ^" U" H) S& ^! \: cperhaps in a revolving door
: [% q S6 }/ ~" @8 Y/ n5 s7 mface to face one day?% X' G" Y# ~% x! q3 `
A "sorry" in the crowd?
! j) i- }: W2 |9 r) `3 e5 X"Wrong number" on the 'phone?
9 v7 @2 q& \2 U+ C- but I know the answer.1 \% V* G6 p5 \! u1 r, N% }
No, they don't remember.
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& V# r7 P2 u: J+ o4 \How surprised they would be
/ ^: c9 k* `$ Z, x) B% r$ `For such a long time already9 S5 O; Q6 o( ^5 R. M! Z f
Fate has been playing with them.& i$ [ \9 n5 b9 V/ J% z- G
, ?4 T9 c! f0 Q2 O dNot quite yet ready
7 I0 k3 S; h: K9 I, d b1 zto change into destiny,) F1 a: a d" u
which brings them nearer and yet further,
$ m& i; Z/ g0 C9 R2 y' m% ucutting their path
7 Z" l3 O& X2 J- ]4 k( x' {( aand stifling a laugh,' k: W( V, i3 ~9 ?
escaping ever further;( s W6 o$ f) h; W! ?- \' q( ?9 |! d
There were sings, indications,
7 q0 u- m9 U* M; B3 t- I$ ?6 Yundecipherable, what does in matter.: `$ W ~) z7 w: ?7 H8 a
Three years ago, perhaps
0 B' D' r; X! R% @0 a8 s; Gor even last Tuesday,
1 ]; r+ r* j4 z5 ?6 w# p, vthis leaf flying
7 G2 P0 m$ d; v! }6 Z" ~from one shoulder to another?
4 _( i1 s; F5 W1 ^: kSomething lost and gathered.
1 T5 w; h; o1 K7 aWho knows, perhaps a ball already
7 \7 c0 I; ]. y4 } rin the bushes, in childhood?2 s$ H/ N( X6 H, @9 V
6 t: [( y* m, p4 KThere were handles, door bells,5 T: ` U+ B1 a( u; e# ], n9 p
where, on the trace of a hand,
, }6 Y3 n+ ]! Q; m x+ ganother hand was placed;
7 t& m: n. s* s, f! Psuitcases next to one another in the
5 N% `, G S% a# Z. mleft luggage.
" e; M! W6 K$ J$ J4 h, ^And maybe one night the same dream# \: B" i, c3 }" b. ^
forgotten on walking;
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But every beginning Y z, s" z3 Q7 I5 S8 g
is only a continuation- [4 g" \' a; T
and the book of fate is; n3 p: G4 T' K: ?+ Y
always open in the middle.; K/ g. J+ I: w9 k
Translation from Polish by Roman Gren8 R3 c: v: A. }# W( p
Translation from French by Sarah Hardenberg |
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