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
Translated by Stanislaw Baranczak and Clare Cavanagh