Both are convinced
That a sudden surge of emotion bound them together...
Beautiful is such a certainty
But uncertainty is more beautiful still.
Because they didn't know each other eariler,
They supposed that nothing was happening between them.
What of the streets,stairways and corridors,
Where they could have
Passed each other long ago?
I'd like to ask them whether they remember
--perhaps in a revolving door ever being face to face?
An 'excuse me' in a crowd
Or a voice 'wrong number' in the receiver.
But I know their answer:
No,they don't remember.
They'd be greatly astonished
To learn that for a lomg time chance had been playing with them.
Not yet wholly readly
To transform into face for them,
It approached them,then backed off,
Stood in their way
And, suppressing a giggle, jumped to the side.
....
Wislawa SzymborBoth are convinced
That a sudden surge of emotion bound them together...
Beautiful is such a certainty
But uncertainty is more beautiful still.
Because they didn't know each other eariler,
They supposed that nothing was happening between them.
What of the streets,stairways and corridors,
Where they could have
Passed each other long ago?
I'd like to ask them whether they remember
--perhaps in a revolving door ever being face to face?
An 'excuse me' in a crowd
Or a voice 'wrong number' in the receiver.
But I know their answer:
No,they don't remember.
They'd be greatly astonished
To learn that for a lomg time chance had been playing with them.
Not yet wholly readly
To transform into face for them,
It approached them,then backed off,
Stood in their way
And, suppressing a giggle, jumped to the side.
....
Wislawa Szymborska
"Love At First Sight"!