Encounter

Poets’ Window- International Poetry Evening
International Poetry Evening at Ashbees Wine Bar in Earls Court. In addition to the
‘Poets’ Window’ poem’s being read, we had poems written by acclaimed Poets from
around the world read by native speakers, followed by the English translation.

Polish poem, read by Elizabeth
Spotkanie
By Czeslaw Milosz

Jechaliśmy prezed świtem po zamarłych polach,
Czerwone skrzydło wstawało, jeszcse noc,
I zając przebiegł nagle tuz przed nami,
A jeden z nas pokazał go ręką
To było dawno. Dzisiaj już nie żyją
Ni zając, ani ten co go wskawywał
Miłości moja, gdzież są, dokąd idą,
Błysk ręki, linia biegu, szelest grud-
Nie z żalu pytam, ale z zamyślenia


Encounter

We were riding through frozen fields in a wagon at dawn.
A red wing rose in the darkness.
And suddenly a hare ran across the road.
One of us pointed to it with his hand.
That was long ago. Today neither of them is alive,
Not the hare, nor the man who made the gesture.
O my love, where are they, where are they going
The flash of a hand, streak of movement, rustle of pebbles.
I ask not out of sorrow, but in wonder.

Wilno, 1936
By Czeslaw Milosz from “The Collect ed Poems 1931-1987”, 1988
Translated by Czeslaw Milosz and Lillian Vallee