ELŻBIETA WOJNAROWSKA

 

ELŻBIETA WOJNAROWSKA

 

To Bridle Madness 

(okiełznać szaleństwo)

 

to bridle madness

in the shape of a poem

to trim

fire into a hedge

a storm into wine

to stretch lightning bolts

along bean poles

 

 

Sin 

(grzech)

 

I am as imperfect as my poems

why did you say: “do not be like

a resounding gong”

you gave us hands didn’t you know

that we would clutch each other’s

perfect as you are you didn’t foresee

that he would be dearer to me

than you

 

 

A Tree 

(drzewo)

 

I planted a fig tree

on the land of Jerusalem

How much blood

did its roots

suck from the soil

How much sweat

did its fruit absorb

Saliva oozed

from beneath the cracked bark

I planted a fig tree

on the land of Jerusalem

It spread out its branches

and died

 

(TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH BY EWA ELŻBIETA NOWAKOWSKA)

 

ELŻBIETA WOJNAROWSKA

 

ELŻBIETA WOJNAROWSKA is a poet, novelist, playwright, and journalist.  She has authored collections of poetry, screenplays, scripts and theatre plays, as well as novels for adults, youth, and children. She has won numerous literary contests, and most recently, she was awarded the Kraków UNESCO City of Literature Prize for 2020. (translations consulted by Prof. Robin Davidson, USA)