Adam Zagajewski, 'Try To Praise The Mutilated World'

[duathir.livejournal.com]

Try To Praise The Mutilated World

Try to praise the mutilated world.
Remember June's long days,
and wild strawberries, drops of wine, the dew.
The nettles that methodically overgrow
the abandoned homesteads of exiles.
You must praise the mutilated world.
You watched the stylish yachts and ships;
one of them had a long trip ahead of it,
while salty oblivion awaited others.
You've seen the refugees heading nowhere,
you've heard the executioners sing joyfully.
You should praise the mutilated world.
Remember the moments when we were together
in a white room and the curtain fluttered.
Return in thought to the concert where music flared.
You gathered acorns in the park in autumn
and leaves eddied over the earth's scars.
Praise the mutilated world
and the grey feather a thrush lost,
and the gentle light that strays and vanishes
and returns.

by Adam Zagajewski

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Comments

[bitsofbeauty.livejournal.com]

I signed into my account in preparation to post this very same poem to the community only to find it already there on my friends page.

Anyway, it's lovely and it's been years since it was last posted here so thank you for sharing it.

[duathir.livejournal.com]

You are welcome. I logged on in preparation to post 'The Animals' by Edwin Muir, but in looking it up I chanced on this poem, which I had not seen before. It seems the right day for such a poem, and the right light.

[tealight-rookie.livejournal.com]

I love this poem, thanks for posting.

[teithiwr.livejournal.com]

That is beautiful. I especially like

leaves eddied over the earth's scars