Sunday, February 28, 2010

Tadeusz Dąbrowski translated from the Polish by Antonia Lloyd-Jones

The other part of truth


Grandma runs a shop selling religious souvenirs and
yesterday, for nothing at all, she gave me a Saint
Francis, fully aware that I have a little Jesus and
a Blessed Sister Faustina from the very same set.

This morning there was a Saint George, but he’s gone now,
he should be here soon after Sunday again
(and not just him...)
—says Grandma to
people, and people often listen to her and respect her.

Around Friday heaven arrives; they no longer supply
hell (it stays on the shelf too long), but I’ve got
hell at home, as well as heaven and the saints. And, when

I get bored or sad, opposite I set outheaven and hell. In heaven I place the ones
from Grandma. In hell a little pig, a sapper, and a diver.

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