“The Terrorist, He’s Watching” by Wislawa Szymborska

“The Terrorist, He’s Watching”

Wislawa Szymborska    1923- 

Polish   translated by Stanislaw Baranczak and Clare Cavanagh

The bomb in the bar will explode at thirteen twenty.

Now it's just thirteen sixteen.

There's still time for some to go in,

and some to come out.

The terrorist has already crossed the street.

The distance keeps him out of danger,

and what a view -- just like the movies:

A woman in a yellow jacket, she's going in.

A man in dark glasses, he's coming out.

Teen-agers in jeans, they're talking.

Thirteen seventeen and four seconds.

The short one, he's lucky, he's getting on a scooter,

but the tall one, he's going in.

Thirteen seventeen and forty seconds.

That girl, she's walking along with a green ribbon in her hair.

But then a bus suddenly pulls in front of her.

Thirteen eighteen.

The girl's gone.

Was she that dumb, did she go in or not,

we'll see when they carry them out.

Thirteen nineteen.

Somehow no one's going in.

Another guy, fat, bald, is leaving, though.

Wait a second, looks like he's looking for something in his pockets and

at thirteen twenty minus ten seconds

he goes back in for his crummy gloves.

Thirteen twenty exactly.

This waiting, it's taking forever.

Any second now.

No, not yet.

Yes, now.

The bomb, it explodes.

_______________________

My thanks to my colleague, Mr Paul Dyer here at BD Somani International School who introduced me to this poet and her disturbing and yet powerful poem.