golempoem

poems, golems, poems

Archive for the ‘Wisława Szymborska’ Category

Wisława Szymborska: “Brueghel’s Two Monkeys”

Posted by matt on 7 April 2008

BRUEGHEL’S TWO MONKEYS

This is what I see in my dreams about final exams:
two monkeys, chained to the floor, sit on the windowsill,
the sky behind them flutters,
the sea is taking its bath.

The exam is History of Mankind.
I stammer and hedge.

One monkey stares and listens with mocking disdain,
the other seems to be dreaming away–
but when it’s clear I don’t know what to say
he prompts me with a gentle
clinking of his chain.

Wisława Szymborska

Translation by Stanisław Barańczak & Clare Cavanagh

Posted in Pieter Brueghel, Poland, Translation, Wisława Szymborska | 5 Comments »

 
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.