Love at First Sight
by Wislawa Szymborska
They're both convinced
that a sudden passion joined them.
Such certainty is beautiful,
but uncertainty is more beautiful still
Since they'd never met before, they're sure
that there'd been nothing between them.
But what's the word from the streets, staircases, hallways—
perhaps they've passed each other a million times?
I want to ask them
if they don't remember—
a moment face to face
in some revolving door?
perhaps a "sorry" muttered in a crowd?
a curt "wrong number" caught in the receiver?
but I know the answer.
No, they don't remember
They'd be amazed to hear
that Chance has been toying with them
now for years.
Not quite ready yet
to become their Destiny,
it pushed them close, drove them apart,
it barred their path,
stifling a laugh,
and then leaped aside.
There were signs and signals,
even if they couldn't read them yet.
Perhaps three years ago
or just last Tuesday
a certain leaf fluttered
from one shoulder to another?
Something was dropped and then picked up.
Who knows, maybe the ball that vanished
into childhood's thicket?
There were doorknobs and doorbells
where one touch had covered another
beforehand.
Suitcases checked and standing side by side.
One night, perhaps, the same dream,
grown hazy by morning.
Every beginning
is only a sequel, after all,
and the book of events
is always open halfway through.
P.S.:
薇斯拉娃·辛波丝卡(Wislawa Szymborsks):
1923年7月2日出生;1945年至1948年,就读於波兰亚哥朗斯基大学波兰语文和社会学系;1957年发表第一首诗《寻找词语》;她早期诗作高度的政治化,这一时期的作品以《何以活著》(1952)和《自我设问》(1954)为代表;後来的作品则更具哲理和女权主义思想,这包括《呼叫迪》(1957)、《站》(1962)、《笑桶》(1967)、《因为恩典》(1972)、《巨大的数》(1976)、《桥上的人们》(1986)、《一粒沙的世界》(1995)和散文集《推荐阅读》(1973)。
曾获奖项:1954年科拉科夫文学奖
1955年国家奖
1963年文化部奖
1995年获得密茨凯维奇大学荣誉博士
1996年以其诗作“反讽的精确性,允许历史和生物的关联在人类现实的碎片上出现”而荣获诺贝尔文学奖
米沃什(Czeslaw Milosz)八十年代初评价辛波丝卡的诗时说:“她在她的同代人中享有很高的位置,我非常喜欢她的尖锐,怀疑和智慧的诗文,以及在表现一种绝望景观时的诚实”。