Fortnightly Poem 10.A (Featured)

This week’s poem is from Here by- Nobel prize winner Wislawa Szymborska. I always wonder how much poetry is affected by translation (in this case from the Polish) but I still love its optimism. Her attitude to life summed up by the cover of this book I think!

Here Wislawa Szymborska

I can’t speak for elsewhere,

but here on Earth we’ve got a fair supply of everything.

Here we manufacture chairs and sorrows,

scissors, tenderness, transistors, violins,

teacups, dams, and quips.

There may be more of everything elsewhere,

but for reasons left unspecified they lack paintings,

picture tubes, pierogies, handkerchiefs for tears.

Here we have countless places with vicinities,

You may take a liking to some,

give them pet names,

protect them from harm.

there may be comparable places elsewhere,

but no-one thinks they’re beautiful.

Like nowhere else, or almost nowhere,

you’re given your own torso here,

equipped with the accessories required

for adding your own children to the rest,

Not to mention arms, legs, and astounded head.

Ignorance works overtime here,

something is always being counted, compared measured,

from which roots and conclusions are drawn.

I know, I know what you’re thinking.

Nothing here can last,

since from time immemorial the elements hold sway,

But see, even the elements grow weary

and sometimes take extended breaks

before starting up again.

And I know what you’re thinking next.

Wars, wars, wars.

But there are pauses in between them too.

Attention!—people are evil.

At ease—people are good.

At attention wastelands are created.

At ease houses are constructed in the sweat of brows,

and quickly inhabited.

Life on Earth is quite a bargain.

Dreams, for one, don’t charge admission

Illusions are only costly when lost. 

The body has its own installment plan.

And as an extra, added feature,

 you spin on the earth’s carousel for free,

and with it you hitch a ride on the intergalactic blizzard,

with times so dizzying

that nothing here on Earth can even tremble.

Just take a closer look:

the table stands exactly where it stood,

the piece of paper still lies where it was spread,

through the open window comes a breath of air,

the walls reveal no terrifying cracks 

through which nowhere might extinguish you.