 鲜花( 1)  鸡蛋( 0)
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Love at First Sight
0 w, B+ V' a A, x7 S" _0 O" O4 e, {, Cby Wislawa Szymborska
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2 R) u' M k |9 zThey both thought0 r l* {: H& u6 H7 x
that a sudden feeling had united them
+ m) ?8 L4 ?2 X: c) |This certainty is beautiful," a1 N8 G% f( H, F# K
Even more beautiful than uncertainty.$ ~/ u: O* V. d) C* c% ]# s
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They thought they didn't know each other,/ `; M& y8 r B% _0 p7 n
nothing had ever happened between them,7 x3 q" P+ N, \8 }$ @9 V9 N' i
These streets, these stairs, this corridors," V$ x4 H" x7 }/ k5 n9 g% \
Where they could have met so long ago?) I7 W2 B" ], z6 V( L/ p" q3 _9 V9 C& H) V
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I would like to ask them,5 F/ @8 D0 j6 _2 W0 w% }" }
if they can remember -* q" K! [/ a( m& I( Z- \
perhaps in a revolving door% E, f/ o3 p* t5 b6 {# F! [4 ^5 Q
face to face one day?, _- \; t+ J5 n! z& E. x
A "sorry" in the crowd?
, L4 G7 A- B7 o1 i& f v5 ?5 x"Wrong number" on the 'phone?. n% x% Y) c- `# Q8 A
- but I know the answer., V, w5 K3 q+ Q
No, they don't remember.8 P9 A" P5 N9 O$ J
) H0 C O D K& ?1 d1 w/ OHow surprised they would be: L1 E! j( R2 X
For such a long time already7 I6 i. f2 l2 [7 O/ S# x
Fate has been playing with them.- |: m: Q/ p9 I7 M
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Not quite yet ready
6 q; Y; O. K. \- v3 ?to change into destiny,
& Z- x: _7 B0 F4 Awhich brings them nearer and yet further,
$ p; n$ B6 z" {8 i# Scutting their path
3 k$ B R: [2 A/ B Gand stifling a laugh,
h3 {7 e9 F: I8 Descaping ever further;1 Q) p, c8 [. Y# d9 Y
There were sings, indications,
" }9 u( z5 z( a! ^# Tundecipherable, what does in matter.
- L4 c' F( s2 c0 v5 r; h$ u, `* }Three years ago, perhaps
' L" [6 d, I6 ^2 [' @or even last Tuesday,
. B$ H* ^! L2 Zthis leaf flying
9 k' j$ p" r% j! z' m' ifrom one shoulder to another?/ I1 D2 X6 Q- ^: j3 }- |! ^ u
Something lost and gathered.0 t! z% a, D* U) L1 N6 _/ N) p! Y& L
Who knows, perhaps a ball already
$ n: y' {) w8 v9 i( o# d0 `' P/ Y' kin the bushes, in childhood?; k; b% \. F1 j6 s" b# I
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There were handles, door bells,
; O% C6 Z4 Z; h) swhere, on the trace of a hand,
- W+ n* }5 e# f! h5 Yanother hand was placed;, l% G1 g3 u8 L- v# I( }
suitcases next to one another in the& {% G) r" \. f* x$ Y; [
left luggage.
3 ^" B4 m; V7 G7 {- ?3 ^. YAnd maybe one night the same dream
% h z5 e) D+ i" G0 K, e& ~forgotten on walking;" ~3 N: T& ^ t q: z
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But every beginning
' Z. F3 i A4 q5 x5 _) p% D* Uis only a continuation; k# _0 M# g9 f; |/ o. b
and the book of fate is
5 I2 D, X' J/ B4 ialways open in the middle.
7 C+ [" Y3 X( L* [5 h) fTranslation from Polish by Roman Gren/ E) E. Q" G2 [5 m) s9 V: D
Translation from French by Sarah Hardenberg |
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