”Love At First Sight” -Wislawa Szymborska

”They’re both convinced
that a sudden passion joined them.
Such certainty is beautiful,
but uncertainty is more beautiful still.

Since they’d never met before, they’re sure
that there’d been nothing between them.
But what’s the word from the streets, staircases, hallways -
perhaps they’ve passed by each other a million times?

I want to ask them
if they don’t remember -
a moment face to face
in some revolving door?
perhaps a ”sorry” muttered in a crowd?
a curt ”wrong number” caught in the receiver?
but I know the answer.
No, they don’t remember.

They’d be amazed to hear
that Chance has been toying with them
now for years.

Not quite ready yet
to become their Destiny,
it pushed them close, drove them apart,
it barred their path,
stifling a laugh,
and then leaped aside.

There were signs and signals,
even if they couldn’t read them yet.
Perhaps three years ago
or just last Thursday
a certain leaf fluttered
from one shoulder to another?
Something was dropped and picked up.
Who knows, maybe the ball that vanished
into childhood’s thicket?

There were doorknobs and doorbells
where one touch had covered another
beforehand.
Suitcases checked and standing side by side.
One night, perhaps, the same dream,
grown hazy by morning.

Every beginning
is only a sequel, after all,
and the book of events
is always open halfway through.”
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看過”向左走向右走”的朋友,不管是書本的,或是電影的,
總會接觸過這首詩...至少,也看過第一段吧?

是的,愛情,往往是最捉摸不定的東西
我們,或許,早就應該相知相遇相愛
但往往因為太多理由,
令彼此不能相愛

變幻無常本是定律
人生苦短,
何不好好細味
各種變幻所帶給我們的一切苦樂

就讓我們
擁抱變幻無常

享受那種
陰晴不定的快感


相片: East River Drive, New York, 1955
Norman Parkinson