"We knew the World Backwards and Forwards"
(by Wislawa Szymborska)
We knew the world backwards and forwards
So small it fit in a handshake
So easy it could be described in a smile
As plain as the echoes of old truths and a prayer
History did not greet us with triumphant fanfare
It flung dirty sand in our eyes
Ahead of us were distant roads leading nowhere
Poisoned wells, bitter bread
The spoils of war is our knowledge of the world
So large it fits in a handshake
So hard it could be described in a smile
As strange as the echoes of old truths and a prayer.
Thanks to Mary Weyant for the text of the poem:
and to Gary Price for additional links:
Biographical info:
http://www.nobel.se/literature/laureates/1996/index.html
More of her poems (in several languages):
http://pwp.netcabo.pt/0140831001/100901.html
FWIW: the teacher who originally requested the poem plans to make a poster of it,
to hang in his classroom.
Alice Yucht, Teacher-Librarian
Heritage Middle School, Livingston NJ
http://www.hmslibrary.info (school)
http://www.aliceinfo.org (personal)
"Tact is the ability to tell a person to go to Hell in such a way that he or she
goes home and packs, looking forward to the trip."
--Valeria D. Truitt
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-
All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu
In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL
3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation.
LM_NET Help & Information: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/
Archive: http://askeric.org/Virtual/Listserv_Archives/LM_NET.shtml
LM_NET Select/EL-Announce: http://www.cuenet.com/archive/el-announce/
LM_NET Supporters: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/ven.html
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-
LM_NET
Mailing List Home