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In Praise of Dreams
Wistawa SzymborskaIn my dreams
I paint like Vermeer van Delft.I speak fluent Greek
and not with just the living.I drive a car
that does what I want it to.I am gifted
and write mighty epics.I hear voices
as clearly as any venerable saint.My brilliance as a pianist
would stun you.I fly the way we ought to,
i.e., on my own.Falling from the roof,
I tumble gently to the grass.I've got no problem
breathing under water.I can't complain:
I've been able to locate Atlantis.It's gratifying that I can always
wake up before dying.As soon as war breaks out,
I roll over on my other side.I'm a child of my age,
but I don't have to be.A few years ago
I saw two suns.And the night before last a penguin,
clear as day.
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