The Old Painter on a Walk

Audio: Read by the translator.

 

In his pockets treats for local dogs
He sees almost nothing now
He almost doesn’t notice trees suburban villas
He knows every stone here
I painted it all tried to paint my thoughts
And caught so little
The world still grows it grows relentlessly
And yet there is always less of it

Adam Zagajewski (1945-2021)

(Translated, from the Polish, by Clare Cavanagh.)

 

This is drawn from “True Life.”