A Contribution to Statistics by Wislawa Szymborska, translated by S. Baranczak and C. Cavanagh
Out of a hundred people
those who always know better
— fifty-two
doubting every step
— nearly all the rest,
glad to lend a hand
if it doesn’t take too long
— as high as forty-nine,
always good
because they can’t be otherwise
— four, well maybe five,
able to admire without envy
— eighteen,
suffering illusions
induced by fleeting youth
— sixty, give or take a few,
not to be taken lightly
— forty and four,
living in constant fear
of someone or something
— seventy-seven,
capable of happiness
— twenty-something tops,
harmless singly, savage in crowds
— half at least,
cruel
when forced by circumstances
— better not to know
even ballpark figures,
wise after the fact
— just a couple more
than wise before it,
taking only things from life
— thirty
(I wish I were wrong),
hunched in pain,
no flashlight in the dark
— eighty-three
sooner or later,
righteous
— thirty-five, which is a lot,
righteous
and understanding
— three,
worthy of compassion
— ninety-nine,
mortal
— a hundred out of a hundred.
Thus far this figure still remains unchanged.
Dear Devoted Reader
Strangeness happens when you publish a book, strangeness both terrible and profound. The narcissism of technology has alerted me to your blog, but my name or work is not important – I cherished Szymborska’s work but in the whirl of life her death had passed me by. Thank you for informing me of her passing in a manner that is both gracious and honouring – the loss of a vision such as hers should never go unnoticed – I’ve shared this remarkable poem with people I love. Literature is love, consolation, and strength – an unfashionable notion. I know nothing of you, as is the way of the internet: I know that you’re young, that you live in Sydney, that you give your precious time to read other people’s thoughts and to contemplate. You give me immense hope, and I thank you for that.
Thanks for your lovely comment Deborah. It’s remarkable how connected you can feel with a total stranger because of their art, isn’t it? Szymborska was certainly such a person for me, so I feel a real sense of loss at her passing. This is a deceptively simple, wonderful poem which helps show why.
Oh nice to see you posting again … thanks for sharing this poem that, like many good poems, made me laugh and cry!
Are you going to post more this year?
Hi Gummie, I’m so glad you liked the poem as well.
Having started reading book blogs again, I am planning to resume blogging myself- it should be fun!
Oh good … I would love to see you active again.