Dopo ogni guerra
c’è chi deve ripulire.
In fondo un po’ d’ordine
da solo non si fa.

C’è chi deve spingere le macerie
ai bordi delle strade
per far passare
i carri pieni di cadaveri.

C’è chi deve sprofondare
nella melma e nella cenere,
tra le molle dei divani letto,
le schegge di vetro
e gli stracci insanguinati.

C’è chi deve trascinare una trave
per puntellare il muro,
c’è chi deve mettere i vetri alla finestra
e montare la porta sui cardini.

Non è fotogenico
e ci vogliono anni.
Tutte le telecamere sono già partite
per un’altra guerra.

Bisogna ricostruire i ponti
e anche le stazioni.
Le maniche saranno a brandelli
a forza di rimboccarle.

C’è chi con la scopa in mano
ricorda ancora com’era.
C’è chi ascolta
annuendo con la testa non mozzata.
Ma presto lì si aggireranno altri
che troveranno il tutto
un po’ noioso.

C’è chi talvolta
dissotterrerà da sotto un cespuglio
argomenti corrosi dalla ruggine
e li trasporterà sul mucchio dei rifiuti.

Chi sapeva
di che si trattava,
deve far posto a quelli
che ne sanno poco.
E meno di poco.
E infine assolutamente nulla.

Sull’erba che ha ricoperto
le cause e gli effetti,
c’è chi deve starsene disteso
con la spiga tra i denti,
perso a fissare le nuvole.

(Traduzione di Pietro Marchesani)

Koniec i poczatek

Po każdej wojnie
ktoś musi posprzątać.
Jaki taki porządek
sam się przecież nie zrobi.

Ktoś musi zepchnąć gruzy
na pobocza dróg,
żeby mogły przejechać
wozy pełne trupów.

Ktoś musi grzęznąć
w szlamie i popiele,
sprężynach kanap,
drzazgach szkła
i krwawych szmatach.

Ktoś musi przywlec belkę
do podparcia ściany,
ktoś oszklić okno
i osadzić drzwi na zawiasach.

Fotogeniczne to nie jest
i wymaga lat.
Wszystkie kamery wyjechały już
na inną wojnę.

Mosty trzeba z powrotem
i dworce na nowo.
W strzępach będą rękawy
od zakasywania.

Ktoś z miotłą w rękach
wspomina jeszcze jak było.
Ktoś słucha
przytakując nie urwaną głową
Ale już w ich pobliżu
zaczną kręcić się tacy,
których to będzie nudzić.

Ktoś czasem jeszcze
Wykopie spod krzaka
przeżarte rdzą argumenty
i poprzenosi je na stos odpadków.

Ci, co wiedzieli
o co tutaj szło,
muszą ustąpić miejsca tym,
co wiedzą mało.
I mniej niż mało.
I wreszcie tyle co nic.

W trawie, która porosła
przyczyny i skutki,
musi ktoś sobie leżeć
z kłosem w zębach
i gapić się na chmury.

The End and the Beginning

After every war
someone has to clean up.
Things won’t
straighten themselves up, after all.

Someone has to push the rubble
to the side of the road,
so the corpse-filled wagons
can pass.

Someone has to get mired
in scum and ashes,
sofa springs,
splintered glass,
and bloody rags.

Someone has to drag in a girder
to prop up a wall,
Someone has to glaze a window,
rehang a door.

Photogenic it’s not,
and takes years.
All the cameras have left
for another war.

We’ll need the bridges back,
and new railway stations.
Sleeves will go ragged
from rolling them up.

Someone, broom in hand,
still recalls the way it was.
Someone else listens
and nods with unsevered head.
But already there are those nearby
starting to mill about
who will find it dull.

From out of the bushes
sometimes someone still unearths
rusted-out arguments
and carries them to the garbage pile.

Those who knew
what was going on here
must make way for
those who know little.
And less than little.
And finally as little as nothing.

In the grass that has overgrown
causes and effects,
someone must be stretched out
blade of grass in his mouth
gazing at the clouds.

(Translated from Polish by Joanna Trzeciak)

__________________________

Andrea Bocelli, Celine Dion, Lady Gaga, Lang Lang, John Legend perform “The Prayer”
during One World: Together At Home on April 18