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Love at First Sight
by Wislawa Szymborska, 
the winner of Nobel Prize in Literature 1996

They’re both convinced
that a sudden passion joined them.
Such certainty is beautiful,
but uncertainty is more beautiful still.

Since they’d never met before, they’re sure
that there’d been nothing between them.
But what’s the word from the streets, staircases, hallways—
perhaps they’ve passed by each other a million times?

I want to ask them
if they don’t remember—
a moment face to face
in some revolving door?
perhaps a “sorry” muttered in a crowd?
a curt “wrong number” caught in the receiver?—
but I know the answer.
No, they don’t remember.

They’d be amazed to hear
that Chance has been toying with them
now for years.

Not quite ready yet
to become their Destiny,
it pushed them close, drove them apart,
it barred their path,
stifling a laugh,
and then leaped aside.

There were signs and signals,
even if they couldn’t read them yet.
Perhaps three years ago
or just last Tuesday
a certain leaf fluttered
from one shoulder to another?
Something was dropped and then picked up.
Who knows, maybe the ball that vanished
into childhood’s thicket?

There were doorknobs and doorbells
where one touch had covered another
beforehand.
Suitcases checked and standing side by side.
One night, perhaps, the same dream,
grown hazy by morning.

Every beginning
is only a sequel, after all,
and the book of events
is always open halfway through.

Miłość od pierwszego wejrzenia
Oboje są przekonani,
że połączyło ich uczucie nagłe.
Piękna jest taka pewność,
ale niepewność piękniejsza.

Sądzą, że skoro nie znali się wcześniej,
nic między nimi nigdy się nie działo.
A co na to ulice, schody, korytarze,
na których mogli sie od dawna mijać?

Chciałabym ich zapytać,
czy nie pamiętają-
może w dzwiach obrotowych
kiedyś twarzą w twarz?
jakieś "przepraszam" w ścisku?
głos "pomyłka" w słuchawce?
- ale znam ich odpowiedź.
Nie, nie pamiętają.

Bardzo by ich zdziwiło,
że od dłuższego już czasu
bawił sie nimi przypadek.

Jeszcze nie całkiem gotów
zamienić się dla nich w los,
zbiżał ich i oddalał,
zabiegał im drogę
i tłumiąc chichot
odskakiwał w bok.

Były znaki, sygnały,
cóż z tego, że nieczytelne.
Może trzy lata temu
albo w zeszły wtorek
pewien listek przefrunął
z ramienia na ramię?
Było coś zgubionego i podniesionego.
Kto wie, czy już nie piłka 
w zaroślach dzieciństwa?

Były klamki i dzwonki,
na których zawczasu
dotyk kładł się na dotyk.
Walizki obok siebie w przechowalni.
Był może pewnej nocy jednakowy sen,
natychmiast po zbudzeniu zamazany.

Każdy przecież początek
to tylko ciąg dalszy,
a księga zdarzeń
zawsze otwarta w połowie.
Love at First Sight
by Wislawa Szymborska, 
the winner of Nobel Prize in Literature 1996

They’re both convinced
that a sudden passion joined them.
Such certainty is beautiful,
but uncertainty is more beautiful still.

Since they’d never met before, they’re sure
that there’d been nothing between them.
But what’s the word from the streets, staircases, hallways—
perhaps they’ve passed by each other a million times?

I want to ask them
if they don’t remember—
a moment face to face
in some revolving door?
perhaps a “sorry” muttered in a crowd?
a curt “wrong number” caught in the receiver?—
but I know the answer.
No, they don’t remember.

They’d be amazed to hear
that Chance has been toying with them
now for years.

Not quite ready yet
to become their Destiny,
it pushed them close, drove them apart,
it barred their path,
stifling a laugh,
and then leaped aside.

There were signs and signals,
even if they couldn’t read them yet.
Perhaps three years ago
or just last Tuesday
a certain leaf fluttered
from one shoulder to another?
Something was dropped and then picked up.
Who knows, maybe the ball that vanished
into childhood’s thicket?

There were doorknobs and doorbells
where one touch had covered another
beforehand.
Suitcases checked and standing side by side.
One night, perhaps, the same dream,
grown hazy by morning.

Every beginning
is only a sequel, after all,
and the book of events
is always open halfway through.

Miłość od pierwszego wejrzenia
Oboje są przekonani,
że połączyło ich uczucie nagłe.
Piękna jest taka pewność,
ale niepewność piękniejsza.

Sądzą, że skoro nie znali się wcześniej,
nic między nimi nigdy się nie działo.
A co na to ulice, schody, korytarze,
na których mogli sie od dawna mijać?

Chciałabym ich zapytać,
czy nie pamiętają-
może w dzwiach obrotowych
kiedyś twarzą w twarz?
jakieś "przepraszam" w ścisku?
głos "pomyłka" w słuchawce?
- ale znam ich odpowiedź.
Nie, nie pamiętają.

Bardzo by ich zdziwiło,
że od dłuższego już czasu
bawił sie nimi przypadek.

Jeszcze nie całkiem gotów
zamienić się dla nich w los,
zbiżał ich i oddalał,
zabiegał im drogę
i tłumiąc chichot
odskakiwał w bok.

Były znaki, sygnały,
cóż z tego, że nieczytelne.
Może trzy lata temu
albo w zeszły wtorek
pewien listek przefrunął
z ramienia na ramię?
Było coś zgubionego i podniesionego.
Kto wie, czy już nie piłka 
w zaroślach dzieciństwa?

Były klamki i dzwonki,
na których zawczasu
dotyk kładł się na dotyk.
Walizki obok siebie w przechowalni.
Był może pewnej nocy jednakowy sen,
natychmiast po zbudzeniu zamazany.

Każdy przecież początek
to tylko ciąg dalszy,
a księga zdarzeń
zawsze otwarta w połowie.

616 Views

29

View In My Room

"At First Sight" original painting Painting

Lidia Wylangowska

United States

Painting, Oil on Wood

Size: 36 W x 40 H x 1.5 D in

Ships in a Crate

SOLD
Originally listed for $4,000

616 Views

29

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ABOUT THE ARTWORK
DETAILS AND DIMENSIONS
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Love at First Sight by Wislawa Szymborska, the winner of Nobel Prize in Literature 1996 They’re both convinced that a sudden passion joined them. Such certainty is beautiful, but uncertainty is more beautiful still. Since they’d never met before, they’re sure that there’d been nothing between the...

Year Created:

2017

Subject:
Mediums:
Medium:

Painting, Oil on Wood

Rarity:

One-of-a-kind Artwork

Size:

36 W x 40 H x 1.5 D in

Ready to Hang:

Not Applicable

Frame:

Not Framed

Authenticity:

Certificate is Included

Packaging:

Ships in a Crate

Delivery Cost:

Shipping is included in price.

Delivery Time:

Typically 5-7 business days for domestic shipments, 10-14 business days for international shipments.

Returns:

14-day return policy. Visit our help section for more information.

Handling:

Ships in a wooden crate for additional protection of heavy or oversized artworks. Artists are responsible for packaging and adhering to Saatchi Art’s packaging guidelines.

Ships From:

United States.

Need more information?

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BIO Lidia Wylangowska, a native of Poland, lives and works in U.S., Illinois with her husband, Christopher since 1993. She works mainly in portraiture and figurative oil painting. While her artistically expressed stories revolve around personal exploration of her internal and external worlds and their wonders, imagination and meanings, her pieces allow viewers to interpret for themselves. Her distinctive, dynamic artworks display a wide variety of themes and moods; executed in muted, neutral colors, dramatic contrasts are created with vibrant hues or tones that are layered over lacy, vegetal, and textural relief patterns. This combination of realism and abstraction that plays across the surface of her pieces, imbues them with a sense of the merging of internal and external possibilities. Lidia has developed her own visual vocabulary and inimitable style as an autodidact. Her distinctive personal style emanates a spectrum of human nature. Her artwork is included in numerous private art collections throughout the U.S. and internationally. She has also created many commissioned works of art. STATEMENT My art tells my story. It's a story of my world, of my thoughts and emotions entwined in an internal dialogue. And some of it can be expressed only through painting. It is incredible, how fairy-tales I heard once-upon-a-time, in my childhood actually influenced my life and defined who I am. As an adult, I still believe in happy endings and that good will prevail. The Enchanted Pencil is one of the stories I remember very clearly. This special pencil could materialize anything drawn, such as doors that lead to any place imaginable. I realized this story has become hardwired in me. And now my paintings are those doors. Doors that lead me to my own world of peace and harmony. A world where dragons, wyverns, basilisks and dwarfs roam free. Where life has a deeper meaning which I do not yet comprehend but searching for this meaning is a fascinating process. ..... PROCESS OF WORK The painting process will likely begin before you realize you want to do it. However, taking it purely technically ... Here is plywood. A few layers of primer. I start with a sketch and then work with oil paints starting with the subtle valors. Light is probably the most important element of my research. However, it is also true that the deeper the shadow, the brighter the light is. Possibly it is about looking for a balance.

Artist Recognition
Artist featured in a collection

Artist featured by Saatchi Art in a collection

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