Here by Wislawa Szymborska

Author:Wislawa Szymborska [Szymborska, Wislawa & Cavanagh, Clare & Baranczak, Stanislaw]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780547364612
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Published: 2016-03-17T16:00:00+00:00

PORTRAIT FROM MEMORY

Everything seems to agree.

The head's shape, the features, the silhouette, the height.

But there's no resemblance.

Maybe not in that position?

A different color scheme?

Maybe more in profile,

as if looking at something?

What about something in his hands?

His own book? Someone else's?

A map? Binoculars? A fishing reel?

And should he be wearing something different?

A soldier's uniform in '39? Camp stripes?

A windbreaker from that closet?

Or—as if passing to the other shore—

up to his ankles, his knees, his waist, his neck,

deluged? Naked?

And maybe a backdrop should be added?

For example, a meadow still uncut?

Rushes? Birches? A lovely cloudy sky?

Maybe someone should be next to him?

Arguing with him? Joking?

Drinking? Playing cards?

A relative? A chum?

Several women? One?

Maybe standing in a window?

Going out the door?

With a stray dog at his feet?

In a friendly crowd?

No, no, all wrong.

He should be alone,

that suits some best.

And not so familiar, so close up?

Farther? Even farther?

In the furthermost depths of the image?

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.