We knew the World Backwards and Forwards
My friend Nimesh suggested to post this Wisława Szymborska’s Poem as a rejoinder to post “On Angels” by Czeslaw Milosz.
It seemed most of the readers did not inferred the poets’ metaphor appropriately. Please also read Michele’s reveling comment-
“Life lasts but a few scratches of the claw in the sand.”
We knew the world backwards and forwards
So small it fit in a handshake
So easy it could be described in a smile
As plain as the echoes of old truths and a prayer
History did not greet us with triumphant fanfare
It flung dirty sand in our eyes
Ahead of us were distant roads leading nowhere
Poisoned wells, bitter bread
The spoils of war is our knowledge of the world
So large it fits in a handshake
So hard it could be described in a smile
As strange as the echoes of old truths and a prayer.
By Wisława Szymborska
Translated from the Polish by Joanna Trzeciak
on 28 Mar 2009 at 8:38 pm 1.Magda said …
Your pictures, images are always amazing, Ajay, may I ask where they come from? Warmest from spring Poland! :-)