Could Have

Wisława Szymborska * Track #11 On View with a Grain of Sand

Download "Could Have"

Album View with a Grain of Sand

ALBUM

Wisława Szymborska

Could Have by Wisława Szymborska

Performed by

Wisława Szymborska

Produced by

Clare Cavanagh & Stanisław Barańczak

Writed by

About

Szymborska’s poetry really makes you think. Or overthink. Or metathink. In any case, here is another of her poems that any human, in any part of the world can relate to. In a sense, I would categorize it with her poems on universality. This poem makes you realize how though it did not happen. It wou...

Could Have Annotated

It could have happened.
It had to happen.
It happened earlier. Later.
Nearer. Farther off.
It happened, but not to you.

You were saved because you were the first.
You were saved because you were the last.
Alone. With others.
On the right. The left.
Because it was raining. Because of the shade.
Because the day was sunny.

You were in luck -- there was a forest.
You were in luck -- there were no trees.
You were in luck -- a rake, a hook, a beam, a brake,
A jamb, a turn, a quarter inch, an instant.
You were in luck -- just then a straw went floating by.

As a result, because, although, despite.
What would have happened if a hand, a foot,
within an inch, a hairsbreadth from
an unfortunate coincidence.

So you're here? Still dizzy from another dodge,
close shave, reprieve?
One hole in the net and you slipped through?
I couldn't be more shocked or speechless.
Listen,
how your heart pounds inside me.