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Poetry

Rooms and Gardens

By Grzegorz Wróblewski
Translated from Polish by Agnieszka Pokojska

They will greet you with mysterious
smiles, those who were there before you.
Later, when new ones arrive, you will already
know it all.

You will welcome them with the same smile and
show them in.
With a sweeping gesture you will present
the freshly made beds and the expansive view of the gardens.

At last, when they will have composed themselves a little,
you will explain
where they are and what the future has in store for them.

Translation of “Pomieszczenia i ogrody.” Copyright Grzegorz Wróblewski. By arrangement with the author. Translation copyright 2011 by Agnieszka Pokojska. All rights reserved.

English Polish (Original)

They will greet you with mysterious
smiles, those who were there before you.
Later, when new ones arrive, you will already
know it all.

You will welcome them with the same smile and
show them in.
With a sweeping gesture you will present
the freshly made beds and the expansive view of the gardens.

At last, when they will have composed themselves a little,
you will explain
where they are and what the future has in store for them.

Pomieszczenia i ogrody

Będą się do ciebie tajemniczo
uśmiechać ci, którzy przybędą tam przed tobą.
A potem, gdy nadejdą następni, ty będziesz już
wszystko wiedział.

Przywitasz ich takim samym uśmiechem i
wejdziecie razem do środka.
Powolnym ruchem dłoni wskażesz im
świeżo pościelone łóżka i rozległy widok na ogrody.

Na koniec, gdy już nieco ochłoną,
wytłumaczysz,
gdzie się znaleźli i co ich w przyszłości czeka.

© Grzegorz Wróblewski

Polish text provided with the assistance of the Polish Cultural Institute New York.

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