Szymborska’s “Nic Dwa Razy” (Nothing Twice)



Nic dwa razy sie nie zdarza
i nie zdarzy. Z tej przyczyny zrodzilismy sie bez wprawy
i pomrzemy bez rutyny.

Nothing happens twice
and nothing will.  For this reason, we were born without training
and we will die without a routine. 

Chocbysmy uczniami byli najtepszymi w szkole swiata
nie bedziemy repetowac
zadnej zimy ani lata.

Even if we were the dumbest students in the school of the world
we won’t need to repeat
any winter nor any summer.

Zaden dzien sie nie powtorzy, nie ma dwoch podobnych nocy, dwoch tych samych pocalunkow,
dwoch jednakich spojrzen w oczy.

No day will ever repeat, there aren’t any two similar nights, no two of the same kisses,
no two identical gazes into the eyes. 

Wczoraj, kiedy twoje imie
ktos wymowil przy mnie glosno, tak mi bylo, jakby roza
przez otwarte wpadla okno.

Yesterday, when your name
was spoken next to me aloud, it was for me as if a rose
fell in through an open window. 

Dzis, kiedy jestesmy razem, odwrocilam twarz ku scianie. Roza? Jak wyglada roza?
Czy to kwiat? A moze kamien?
Czemu ty sie, zla godzino,
z niepotrzebnym mieszasz lekiem? Jestes – a wiec musisz minac. Miniesz – a wiec to jest piekne.

Today, when we’re together, I turned my face towards the wall. Rose? What does a rose look like?
Is it a flower? Or maybe a stone?
Why do you, evil hour,
get confused with an unnecessary anxiety? You do – so then you must pass. You will pass – so then it’s beautiful.

Usmiechnieci, wpolobjeci sprobujemy szukac zgody,
choc roznimy sie od siebie
jak dwie krople czystej wody.

Smiling, half-embracing, we’ll try to find agreement,
although we’ll differ from each other
like two drops of clear water. 

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7 Comments »

  1. Dear Sir/Madam,
    I’m a student of English and a great fan of Szymborska’s poetry. I devote my diploma project to her so I’ve chosen the poem “Nic dwa razy” (Nothing Twice) to analyze. Thus, I would be pleased if You send me the name of the author of this translation. I will use his/her name only in order to discuss the Szymborksa’s poem.

    Comment by Gosia — March 24, 2013 @ 6:41 am

  2. I would be really gratefull if you send me author’s name of this translation.

    DailyCandor: I did. I emailed you. Yesterday.

    Comment by Gosia — March 25, 2013 @ 1:55 am

  3. […] [1] La poesia è una mia traduzione dall’inglese da questo sito http://dailycandor.com/szymborskas-nic-dwa-razy-nothing-twice/ […]

    Pingback by I paradossi dell’anafora… | Branoalcollo's Blog — June 24, 2013 @ 1:07 am

  4. Why in this translate the polish text is without polish symbols like: ?,?,?,ó? That is terrible! :/

    Comment by julia — May 10, 2018 @ 2:23 pm

  5. Wis?awa Szymborska is a author this poem

    Comment by julia — May 10, 2018 @ 2:26 pm

  6. Wis?awa with l with stripe
    That l is in polish ?awka in english desk.

    Comment by julia — May 10, 2018 @ 2:30 pm

  7. I would be really gratefull if you send me author’s name of this translation.

    Comment by Julia — January 23, 2019 @ 4:12 am

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