A Contribution to Statistics -- Wislawa Szymborska

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A Contribution to Statistics -- Wislawa Szymborska

A Contribution to Statistics

Out of a hundred people

those who always know better-- fifty-two

doubting every step-- nearly all the rest,

glad to lend a handif it doesn't take too long-- as high as forty-nine,

always goodbecause they can't be otherwise-- four, well maybe five,

able to admire without envy-- eighteen,

suffering illusionsinduced by fleeting youth-- sixty, give or take a few,

not to be taken lightly-- forty and four,

living in constant fearof someone or something-- seventy-seven,

capable of happiness-- twenty-something tops,

harmless singly, savage in crowds-- half at least,

cruelwhen forced by circumstances-- better not to knoweven ballpark figures,

wise after the fact-- just a couple morethan wise before it,

taking only things from life-- thirty(I wish I were wrong),

hunched in pain,no flashlight in the dark-- eighty-threesooner or later,

righteous-- thirty-five, which is a lot,

righteousand understanding-- three,

worthy of compassion-- ninety-nine,

mortal-- a hundred out of a hundred.Thus far this figure still remains unchanged.

~ Wislawa Szymborska ~

(Poems: New and Selected, trans. by S. Baranczak and C. Cavanagh)

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