Once We Knew By: Wislawa Szymborska

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Once We Knew By Wislawa Szymborska

• Once we knew the world well.It was so small
  it could fit in a handshake,so easy you could
  describe it with a smile,it was ordinary as old
  truths in a prayer.History did not welcome us
  with fanfares.It threw filthy dust into our
  eyes.Before us only dead-end roads,poisoned
  wells, bitter bread.Our war's booty is
  knowledge of the world.It is so large it can fit
  in a handshake.so difficult you can describe it
  with a smile,it is extraordinary as old truths
  in a prayer.