An Idea by Wislawa Szymborska
Translated from the Polish by Clare Cavanagh and Stanislaw Baranczak
An idea came to me
for a rhyme? a poem?
Well, fine — I say — stay awhile, we’ll talk.
Tell me a little more about yourself.
So it whispered a few words in my ear.
Ah, so that’s the story — I say — intriguing.
These matters have long weighed upon my heart.
But a poem about them? I don’t think so.
So it whispered a few words in my ear.
It may seem that way — I reply —
but you overestimate my gifts and powers.
I wouldn’t even know where to start.
So it whispered a few words in my ear.
You’re wrong — I say — a short, pithy poem
is much harder than a long one.
Don’t pester me, don’t nag, it won’t turn out.
So it whispered a few words in by ear.
All right then, I’ll try, since you insist.
But don’t say I didn’t warn you.
I write, tear it up, and toss it out.
So it whispered a few words in by ear.
You’re right — I say — there are always other poets.
Some of them can do better.
I’ll give you names and addresses.
So it whispered a few words in by ear.
Of course I’ll envy them.
We envy even the weak poems.
But this one should . . . it ought to have . . .
So it whispered a few words in my ear.
Exactly, to have the qualities you’ve listed.
So let’s change the subject.
How about a cup of coffee?
It just sighed.
And started vanishing.
And vanished. Art by Andy Massena
Recommended listening: Escape Artist - Zoe Keating
Links of the Day: Hopper Meditations: a photographic ode to the paintings of Edward Hopper The Complete Illustrated Archive of Vincent van Gogh’s Letters In the future, we will photograph everything and look at nothing
Hello,
Currently, Rohini Kejriwal is in New Zealand. She's part of a live-action Lord Of The Rings experience deep in the New Zealand wilderness.