Wislawa Szymborska, 1923 – 2012
February 2, 2012, 7:24 am
Posted by Matthew Boudway
The great Polish poet Wislawa Szymborska died yesterday in Krakow. Here’s a poem from her 1976 collection, A Large Number:
IN PRAISE OF FEELING BAD ABOUT YOURSELF
The buzzard never says it is to blame.
The panther wouldn’t know what scruples mean.
When the piranha strikes, it feels no shame.
If snakes had hands, they’d claim their hands were clean.
A jackal doesn’t understand remorse.
Lions and lice don’t waver in their course.
Why should they, when they know they’re right?
Though hearts of killer whales may weigh a ton,
in every other way they’re light.
On this third planet of the sun
among the signs of bestiality
a clear conscience is Number One.
Beautiful! And the translation craft is remarkable. Thank you for posting this.
I have always loved her poetry. May she rest in peace!
How playfully insightful! Thanks for introducing her to me.
among the signs of bestiality
a clear conscience is Number One.
One wonders how this speaks to the current debate on conscience ?
Perhaps an invitation to look more deeply and ask more questions, to see shades of grey, rather than insist one’s conscience is always correct ?
God Bless
These are two distinct uses of the word conscience. One is prior to acting (which act is right?) The other is self-reflective (how am I doing?) The poem is clearly talking about the second.
I don’t know how I could have missed this poet. Just ordered one of her collections.
Good to see the popularity of a poet who makes sense and continues in the ancient role of poet as sage. These days a great deal of poetry is sheer, unadulterated chaotic nonsense — and on purpose!!!
The snake is really interesting. It’s the only one among the examples that is phrased in a somewhat positive way, instead of simply negative. It’s conditional, and counterfactual, but not a simple negative. If snakes had hands. Not forepaws, but hands. People have hands. People make claims. The other animals in the poem “don’t have” second thoughts, but the snake, if it had hands, would make claims about the hands, defending their innocence.
I know this is a translation, but I’d be interested to know if the rhythm in the lines (usually 10 beats, but 8 when she wants to emphasize a point) is the same or has some parallels in Polish.
There is a great photo of Szymborska sitting at a table, eyes closed, smile on her lips, a cup of tea?/coffee? in front of her and a cigarette in her fingers. She looks blissful. I love it; reminds me of my smoking days. The photo may be on one of her books.
Glad to know someone else thinks fondly of her smoking days. Maybe in heaven …
Yes Jean, on the list of things hoped for!
Of Polish poets and animals and virtue — a theme?
http://andrewsullivan.thedailybeast.com/2012/02/a-.html