September 20, 2012
Thursday Poem
Nothing Twice
.
Nothing can ever happen twice.
In consequence, the sorry fact is
that we arrive here improvised
and leave without the chance to practice.
In consequence, the sorry fact is
that we arrive here improvised
and leave without the chance to practice.
.
Even if there is no one dumber,
if you're the planet's biggest dunce,
you can't repeat the class in summer:
this course is only offered once.
if you're the planet's biggest dunce,
you can't repeat the class in summer:
this course is only offered once.
.
No day copies yesterday,
no two nights will teach what bliss is
in precisely the same way,
with precisely the same kisses.
no two nights will teach what bliss is
in precisely the same way,
with precisely the same kisses.
.
One day, perhaps some idle tongue
mentions your name by accident:
I feel as if a rose were flung
into the room, all hue and scent.
mentions your name by accident:
I feel as if a rose were flung
into the room, all hue and scent.
.
The next day, though you're
here with me,
I can't help looking at the clock:
A rose? A rose? What could that be?
Is that a flower or a rock?
I can't help looking at the clock:
A rose? A rose? What could that be?
Is that a flower or a rock?
.
Why do we treat the fleeting day
with so much needless fear and sorrow?
It's in its nature not to stay
Today is always gone tomorrow
with so much needless fear and sorrow?
It's in its nature not to stay
Today is always gone tomorrow
.
With smiles and kisses, we prefer
to seek accord beneath our star,
although we're different (we concur)
just as two drops of water are.
.
to seek accord beneath our star,
although we're different (we concur)
just as two drops of water are.
.
by Wislawa Szymborska
from Poems New and Collected 1957-1997
translated by Stanislaw Baranczak and Clare Cavanagh
from Poems New and Collected 1957-1997
translated by Stanislaw Baranczak and Clare Cavanagh
Posted by Jim Culleny at 06:59 AM | Permalink
Comments
I really like this poem, which has - ironically - been featured here before: http://www.3quarksdaily.com/3quarksdaily/2011/11/thursday-poem-3.html
Posted by: Sylvia | Sep 21, 2012 9:31:21 AM
Delicious irony, Sylvia. Thanks.
Posted by: Susan | Sep 21, 2012 10:07:33 AM
And it was even a "Thursday Poem" both times. Funny! :-)
And Sylvia, what kind of photographic memory do you have?! :-)
Posted by: Abbas Raza | Sep 22, 2012 4:20:42 AM
Sylivia—
My data base of posted poems is clearly not up to snuff, I should consult with you before I post! ;)
Anyway, a good poem should be read more than once, even if contradicts its premise. Another example of the limits of anything.
Posted by: Jim | Sep 22, 2012 7:04:24 AM
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