I
at the station in Amsterdam
I’m waiting for the train to –
doesn’t matter where
rains everywhere
trains everywhere
frozen in the stormy weather
I warm my hands on the coffee cup
lukewarm already
rains everywhere
trains everywhere
shivers down the spine showers
over all Europe what to do
but read poems
rains everywhere
trains everywhere
someone’s sighing – do you
still remember me someone else asks
which platform
rains everywhere
trains everywhere
and there’s no answer
II
at the station in Brussels
changing trains to –
doesn’t matter where
arguing everywhere
sadness everywhere
soaked under the grey streaked sky
I warm my hands on the coffee cup
the next one already
arguing everywhere
sadness everywhere
shivers down the spine showers
over all Europe what to do
but read poems
and still rains
and still trains
someone’s moaning – maybe one day
you’ll understand that I really
love you
everyone’s sad about something
everyone’s humming something
and there’s no answer
III
at the station in Paris there are crowds
maybe I’ve come back to –
doesn’t matter what
everything shines
rubbish everywhere
I’m perishing in the streaked grey mist
I warm my heart on a glass
of white wine
everything shines
rubbish everywhere
mud on my back bliss
all over Europe what to do
but remember poems
everything shines
rubbish everywhere
someone’s humming – how many of those tears are mud
and how many of yesterday’s sighs
are mist
everyone’s sad about something
everyone’s humming something
everything shines
rubbish everywhere
rains everywhere
trains everywhere
and there’s no answer
I prefer rains I prefer trains
to stepping in your mud how many tears are mud
and how many of yesterday’s sighs
are mist…
Translation from Polish by Sarah Luczaj
Grand Prix at XXV edtion of Maria Pawlikowska Jasnorzewska Poetry Award 2018 (Poland)