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Post by Bonobo on Feb 20, 2008 20:13:17 GMT 1
Wisława Szymborska, a Polish poetess, won the Nobel Prize in 1996 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wis%C5%82awa_Szymborska A few poems here: www.pan.net/trzeciak/A Cat in an Empty Apartmenttranslated by Walter Whipple Die? One does not do that to a cat. Because what's a cat to do in an empty apartment? Climb the walls. Caress against the furniture. It seems that nothing has changed here, but yet things are different. Nothing appears to have been relocated, yet everything has been shuffled about. The lamp no longer burns in the evenings. Footsteps can be heard on the stairway, but they're not the ones. The hand which puts the fish on the platter is not the same one which used to do it. Something here does not begin at its usual time. Something does not happen quite as it should Here someone was and was, then suddenly disappeared and now is stubbornly absent. All the closets were peered into. The shelves were walked through. The rug was lifted and examined. Even the rule about not scattering papers was violated. What more is to be done? Sleep and wait. Let him return, at least make a token appearance. Then he'll learn that one shouldn't treat a cat like this. He will be approached as though unwillingly, slowly, on very offended paws. With no spontaneous leaps or squeals at first. Kot w pustym mieszkaniu[glow=red,2,300] Umrzeć - tego nie robi się kotu. Bo co ma począć kot w pustym mieszkaniu. Wdrapywać się na ściany. Ocierać między meblami. Nic niby tu nie zmienione, a jednak pozamieniane. Niby nie przesunięte, a jednak porozsuwane. I wieczorami lampa już nie świeci. Słychać kroki na schodach, ale to nie te. Ręka, co kładzie rybę na talerzyk, także nie ta, co kładła. Coś się tu nie zaczyna w swojej zwykłej porze. Coś się tu nie odbywa jak powinno. Ktoś tutaj był i był, a potem nagle zniknął i uporczywie go nie ma. Do wszystkich szaf sie zajrzało. Przez półki przebiegło. Wcisneęł się pod dywan i sprawdziło. Nawet złamało zakaz i rozrzuciło papiery. Co więcej jest do zrobienia. Spać i czekać. Niech no on tylko wróci, niech no sie pokaże. Już on się dowie, że tak z kotem nie można. Będzie się szło w jego stronę jakby się wcale nie chciało, pomalutku, na bardzo obrażonych łapach. I żadnych skoków pisków na początek. [/glow] |
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monka
Just born
Posts: 20
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Post by monka on Jun 12, 2008 21:25:26 GMT 1
I like this one
EPITAPH
Here lies, oldfashioned as parentheses,
the authoress of verse. Eternal rest
was granted her by earth, although the corpse
had failed to join the avant-garde, of course.
The plain grave? There's poetic justice in it,
this ditty-dirge, the owl, the meek cornflower
Passerby, take your PC out, press "POWER",
think on Szymborska's fate for half a minute.
Translated by Stanislaw Baranczak and Clare Cavanagh
Nagrobek
Tu leży staroświecka jak przecinek
autorka paru wierszy. Wieczny odpoczynek
raczyła dać jej ziemia, pomimo że trup
nie należał do żadnej z literackich grup.
Ale też nic lepszego nie ma na mogile
oprócz tej rymowanki, łopianu i sowy,
Przechodniu, wyjmij z teczki mózg elektronowy
i nad losem Szymborskiej podumaj przez chwilę.
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Post by Bonobo on Jun 13, 2008 10:22:32 GMT 1
Thanks for it. I have found a site with translated poems of Szymborska. One by one.. www.arlindo-correia.com/wislawa_szymborska_2.html#__DUSZA_
A Few Words on the Soulby Wislawa Szymborska (translated from the Polish by Stanislaw Baranczak and Clare Cavanagh) A LITTLE ON THE SOUL Periodically one has a soul. Nobody has it all the time and forever. Day after day, year after year can pass without it. Sometimes only in rapture and in fears of childhood it dwells within longer. Sometimes only in the astonishment, that we have become old. It rarely assists us in strenuous pursuits, such as moving furniture, carrying suitcases or tromping through a road in tight shoes. While filling in forms and chopping meat it usually takes the day off. In a thousand of our conversations it participates in one, and not even necessarily in one, preferring silence. When our bodies start aching more and more, it silently leaves the ward. It's fussy: it doesn't see us immediately in a crowd, it sickens at our attempts at mere advantage and the shrill clamor of business. Joy and sorrow are not all that different to it. Only in the combination of them does it stand up. We can rely on it, when we are certain of nothing, and when everything seizes us. Among all material objects it likes best clocks with pendulums and mirrors, which work fervently, Even when nobody looks. It doesn't say where it comes from and when it will disappear next, But it clearly awaits such questions. It looks like, as much as we need it, also it needs us for something too. Dusza Duszę się miewa. Nikt nie ma jej bez przerwy i na zawsze. Dzień za dniem,rok za rokiem może bez niej minąć. Czasem tylko w zachwytach i lękach dzieciństwa zagnieżdża się na dłużej. Czasem tylko w zdziwieniu, że jesteśmy starzy. Rzadko nam asystuje podczas zajęć żmudnych, jak przesuwanie mebli, dźwiganie walizek, czy przemierzanie drogi w ciasnych butach. Przy wypełnianiu ankiet i siekaniu mięsa z reguły ma wychodne. Na tysiąc naszych rozmów uczestniczy w jednej a i to niekoniecznie, bo woli milczenie. Kiedy ciało zaczyna nas boleć i boleć, cichcem schodzi z dyżuru. Jest wybredna:niechętnie widzi nas w tłumie, mierzi ją nasza walka o byle przewagę i terkot interesów. Radość i smutek to nie są dla niej dwa różne uczucia. Tylko w ich połączeniu jest przy nas obecna. Możemy na nią liczyć kiedy niczego nie jesteśmy pewni, a wszystkiego ciekawi. Z przedmiotów materialnych lubi zegary z wahadłem i lustra, które pracują gorliwie, nawet gdy nikt nie patrzy. Nie mówi skąd przybywa i kiedy znowu nam zniknie, ale wyraźnie czeka na takie pytania. Wygląda na to, że tak jak ona nam, również i my jesteśmy jej na coś potrzebni. |
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Post by tufta on Jun 13, 2008 10:57:28 GMT 1
These are great poems. Especiall A Cat in an Empty Apartment , which is among my favourites poems in general. But there're some poems of the same author which I strongly dislike. Not for their artistic, no, but for their ideological content. One of such poems is in the link provided. It was written in 1953, shortly after the death of Stalin - that's the fourth profile looking down form the revolution's banner.
This Day
The shrill of doorbell still returning to my ears.
Who is it? What's the news, why so early?
I don't want to know. I may still be asleep.
I won't do it, I will not open the door.
Is it dawn already outdoors with its frost,
Blinding me so much I look around through tears?
Was it a clock thundering with seconds?
Or my heart which by itself thunders much more?
As long as the first words remain unspoken,
Uncertainty brings hope, my comrades...
They keep silent, knowing they must read the words
From another's stooped head, from their shut lips.
What's the order given to us - profile four
Looking down form the revolution's banner?
- Call more soldiers, call not less than thousand more
We need more at each and every of these gates!
Here's the Party - the eyes of humankind,
Here's the Party - peoples' strength and conscience.
No part of his life shall ever be forgotten.
His Party will fight the darkness of his mind.
Unfeeling signs on a printed page
Won't reflect the trembling of my hand,
Not crooked with pain, untouched by tears.
The way it should be, it had better stay like this.
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Post by Bonobo on Jun 15, 2008 20:11:34 GMT 1
These are great poems. Especiall A Cat in an Empty Apartment , which is among my favourites poems in general. But there're some poems of the same author which I strongly dislike. Not for their artistic, no, but for their ideological content. One of such poems is in the link provided. It was written in 1953, shortly after the death of Stalin - that's the fourth profile looking down form the revolution's banner. Yes, she was one of those writers who supported communism in 1950s. We all make mistakes. Who doesn`t, let him throw the stone first.  I am providing the Polish original to your translation This Day The shrill of doorbell still returning to my ears. Who is it? What's the news, why so early? I don't want to know. I may still be asleep. I won't do it, I will not open the door. Is it dawn already outdoors with its frost, Blinding me so much I look around through tears? Was it a clock thundering with seconds? Or my heart which by itself thunders much more? As long as the first words remain unspoken, Uncertainty brings hope, my comrades... They keep silent, knowing they must read the words From another's stooped head, from their shut lips. What's the order given to us - profile four Looking down form the revolution's banner? - Call more soldiers, call not less than thousand more We need more at each and every of these gates! Here's the Party - the eyes of humankind, Here's the Party - peoples' strength and conscience. No part of his life shall ever be forgotten. His Party will fight the darkness of his mind. Unfeeling signs on a printed page Won't reflect the trembling of my hand, Not crooked with pain, untouched by tears. The way it should be, it had better stay like this. TEN DZIEŃ Jeszcze dzwonek, ostry dzwonek w uszach brzmi. Kto u progu? Z jaką wieścią, i tak wcześnie? Nie chcę wiedzieć. Może ciągle jestem we śnie. Nie podejdę, nie otworzę drzwi. Czy to ranek na oknami, mroźna skra tak oślepia, że dokoła patrzę łzami? Czy to zegar tak zadudnił sekundami. Czy to moje własne serce werbel gra? Póki nikt z was nie wypowie pierwszych słów, brak pewności jest nadzieją, towarzysze... Milczę. Wiedzą, że to czego nie chcę słyszeć - muszę czytać z pochylonych głów. Jaki rozkaz przekazuje nam na sztandarach rewolucji profil czwarty? - Pod sztandarem rewolucji wzmacniać warty! Wzmocnić warty u wszystkich bram! Oto Partia - ludzkości wzrok. Oto Partia: siła ludów i sumienie. Nic nie pójdzie z jego życia w zapomnienie. Jego Partia rozgarnia mrok. Niewzruszony drukarski znak drżenia ręki mej piszącej nie przekaże, nie wykrzywi go ból, łza nie zmaże. A to słusznie. A to nawet lepiej tak." |
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Post by tufta on Jun 16, 2008 8:08:50 GMT 1
Yes, she was one of those writers who supported communism in 1950s. She did much more than supported Stalinism and communism, she exaltes it publicly (in her poetry) and was rewarded by that by the communist party-state. Ah, this is on the opinions side already. Although I think I'd in general agree I am a little astonished you take her past guilts lightly while being so hard on the Polish opposition leaders, like the commanders of Home Army AK. |
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Post by valpomike on Jun 16, 2008 18:01:09 GMT 1
Was she great, and why? Why did she support communism? Was it for her own gain? If not, why? Did she not love Poland first?
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Post by Bonobo on Jun 16, 2008 21:11:55 GMT 1
She did much more than supported Stalinism and communism, she exaltes it publicly (in her poetry) and was rewarded by that by the communist party-state. Ah, this is on the opinions side already. Although I think I'd in general agree I am a little astonished you take her past guilts lightly while being so hard on the Polish opposition leaders, like the commanders of Home Army AK. How did I know you would bring up the topic of AK comanders? I must be some kind of a genius ;D ;D ;D ;D Sorry for this self appraisal which is probably caused by my inferiority complex. ;D ;D ;D ;D Well, have I already stated my opinion on Warsaw Rising leaders in this forum or you have read it in another? Yes, I take Szymborska`s guilt of cooperation with stalinism lightly because it is enough to look at her to know that she is an extremely fragile and delicate person. She doesn`t seem to be able to oppose anything or anybody, she wasn`t a hardened fighter in 1950s. She just went with the mainstream when the times required people either to make such choices or go to prison. Do you imagine Szymborska in a prsion? Besides, did she hurt anyone then, do we know about any people whom she gave away to the stalinist oppressors??? No. As for AK commanders who started Warsaw Rising, there is 200.000 Warsawians` blood on their hands. They started a thing which got out of control and ended with a massacre. Dear Tufta, if I take my class on a trip and an accident happens, and a few students die, do you think that anybody will praise me for wanting to provide some fun to the class??? No, I will be held responsible for neglecting my duties of a person in charge, who should strive to provide all safety to students. I hold AK commanders responsible for the slaughter which took place in Warsaw. If you want to continue this discussion, let`s move it to Warsaw Rising thread. It is in History Board. |
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Post by tufta on Jun 17, 2008 9:09:53 GMT 1
Was she great, and why? Why did she support communism? Was it for her own gain? If not, why? Did she not love Poland first? She is a very talented poet. She supported communism shortly albeit actively for reasons unknown to me. Probably mixture of youth ideals, some blindness and a litlle bit of cold calculation. I think she loves Poland and did Poland a lot of good later on, helped the opposition, though she always tried to keep off the most hot political items. As Bonobo said -a fragile lady. |
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Post by tufta on Jun 17, 2008 9:10:46 GMT 1
She did much more than supported Stalinism and communism, she exaltes it publicly (in her poetry) and was rewarded by that by the communist party-state. Ah, this is on the opinions side already. Although I think I'd in general agree I am a little astonished you take her past guilts lightly while being so hard on the Polish opposition leaders, like the commanders of Home Army AK. How did I know you would bring up the topic of AK comanders? I must be some kind of a genius ;D ;D ;D ;D Sorry for this self appraisal which is probably caused by my inferiority complex. ;D ;D ;D ;D Well, have I already stated my opinion on Warsaw Rising leaders in this forum or you have read it in another? Yes, I take Szymborska`s guilt of cooperation with stalinism lightly because it is enough to look at her to know that she is an extremely fragile and delicate person. She doesn`t seem to be able to oppose anything or anybody, she wasn`t a hardened fighter in 1950s. She just went with the mainstream when the times required people either to make such choices or go to prison. Do you imagine Szymborska in a prsion? Besides, did she hurt anyone then, do we know about any people whom she gave away to the stalinist oppressors??? No. As for AK commanders who started Warsaw Rising, there is 200.000 Warsawians` blood on their hands. They started a thing which got out of control and ended with a massacre. Dear Tufta, if I take my class on a trip and an accident happens, and a few students die, do you think that anybody will praise me for wanting to provide some fun to the class??? No, I will be held responsible for neglecting my duties of a person in charge, who should strive to provide all safety to students. I hold AK commanders responsible for the slaughter which took place in Warsaw. If you want to continue this discussion, let`s move it to Warsaw Rising thread. It is in History Board. Bonobo, this is exactly the opinion I was astonished about. |
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Post by Bonobo on Jun 17, 2008 20:34:26 GMT 1
She is a very talented poet. She supported communism shortly albeit actively for reasons unknown to me. Probably mixture of youth ideals, some blindness and a litlle bit of cold calculation. I can agree with everything. Youth ideals? Yes, that was her belief that communism was a new democratic system which would introduce the utopian ideals of social equality. Blindness is very important here too because people didn`t fully realise what it all would lead to - that prisons would slowly fill up with the so called enemies of the people. Remember, it was in 1956 that Kruschow revealed Stalin`s crimes - before that common people didn`t know the full scale of the murderous purges of Stalin`s communism. Cold calculation - very well. What do you think - what could an averagely intelligent Pole think about his/her situation after Yalta Conference? After allies withdrew their approval for Polish government in exile? When they didn`t protest after rigged referendums and elections with opposition leaders arrested and murdered? Yes, it could have been her cold calculation to write for communists and compose artistic hymns to Stalin. But it was so natural for a fragile lady.... |
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Post by Bonobo on Feb 16, 2009 9:55:23 GMT 1
Wisława Szymborska W przytułku Jabłońska, tej to dobrze, ze wszystkim się godzi, a jeszcze niby księżna między nami chodzi. Jeszcze wiąże chusteczki i kręci fryzury że trzech synów ma w niebie, to nuż wyjrzy który. "Gdyby wojnę przeżyli to bym tu nie była. Na zimę do jednego, latem do drugiego." Tak sobie wymyśliła. Taka pewna tego. I jeszcze kiwa nad nami tą głową, i pyta o te nasze niezabite dzieci, bo ją, "to by na święta zaprosił ten trzeci". Pewnie by ją jeszcze zjechał złocistą karocą zaprzężoną, a jakże, w białe gołębice, żeby wszyscy widzieli i nie zapomnieli. Aż się czasem uśmieje sama panna Mania, panna Mania do pielęgnowania, litość nad nami na stałym etacie z prawem do wczasów i wolnej niedzieli. ................................................. In the home Jablonska, she’s OK, she puts up with it all, and still, like a princess, she walks among us. Still ties her scarfs and fixes her hair – she has three sons in heaven, one’ll look in, any moment. “If they’d survived the war, I wouldn’t be here. Winter with one, summer with the other”. Thus she’s worked it all out. She’s so very sure. And still this head nods above us, and asks about our unkilled children, because, “for the holidays she’ll be asked by the third one”. Surely he’ll drive up in a large gilded carriage drawn by, and why not, by white turtledoves, so that all would see and would not forget. Till even Miss Maria will sometimes smile, Miss Maria of the nursing staff, with compassion for us from all the permanents, with right to holidays and Sundays off. tłumaczył/translated by: Marcel Weyland (Sydney) mpweyland@bigpond.com www.antoranz.net/CURIOSA/ZBIOR9/C0901/20090131-QZM03070_Szymborska.HTM |
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Post by pjotr on Jun 16, 2011 23:30:25 GMT 1
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Post by Bonobo on Feb 14, 2012 9:58:22 GMT 1
Szymborska died at the age of 90.          Her burial in Krakow was devoid of religious elements according to her last wish.       Instead of traditional funeral march, they played Ella Fitzgerald song. The trumpeter, who normally plays Krakow melody every hour from St. Mary`s Cathedral in the centre of Krakow, played the melody composed to one of her poems.  Here is the old song from 1965 But it is a poor rendition. I prefer the rock version much more, by famous rock group Maanam: The poem Nic Dwa Razy (Nothing Twice) by Wislawa Szymborska Translated by Stanislaw Baranczak and Clare Cavanagh Nothing can ever happen twice. 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. No day copies yesterday, 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. 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 of a rock? Why do we treat the fleeting day with so much needless fear and sorrow? It's in its nature not to say 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. math.univ-lille1.fr/~alvarez/Szymborska.html |
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