Gabriela MistralGabriela Mistral and and

Wislawa Szymborska: Wislawa Szymborska:War, Peace, and PoliticsWar, Peace, and Politics

Dolores LehrDolores Lehr

La Salle UniversityLa Salle University

PCEA, April 9, 2005PCEA, April 9, 2005

Gabriela MistralGabriela Mistral

Born Lucila Godoy y Born Lucila Godoy y Alcayaga April 7, Alcayaga April 7, 1889 in Vicuna, Chile1889 in Vicuna, Chile

Died January 10, Died January 10, 19571957

Long Island, New Long Island, New YorkYork

Gabriela MistralGabriela Mistral

EducatorEducator

PoetPoet

DiplomatDiplomat

Recipient of the Nobel Recipient of the Nobel Prize for Literature Prize for Literature 19451945

Wislawa SzymborskaWislawa Szymborska

Born July 2, 1923 in Born July 2, 1923 in Kornik, PolandKornik, Poland

Lives in Krakow, Lives in Krakow, PolandPoland

Wislawa SzymborskaWislawa Szymborska

Literary EditorLiterary Editor

PoetPoet

Recipient of the Recipient of the Nobel Prize for Nobel Prize for Literature 1996Literature 1996

Mistral’s The Fall of EuropeMistral’s The Fall of Europe

Come, brother, come tonightCome, brother, come tonight

to pray with our sister who hasto pray with our sister who has

no child or mother or people here.no child or mother or people here.

It’s bitter to pray and hear the echoIt’s bitter to pray and hear the echo

sent back by wall and empty air.. . sent back by wall and empty air.. .

She burns, the Old Mother who sheltered usShe burns, the Old Mother who sheltered us

In her olive orchard and her vineyard.In her olive orchard and her vineyard.

We are the children calling to their MotherWe are the children calling to their Mother

Not knowing in this hour if she is the sameNot knowing in this hour if she is the same

and will answer to the name we call her,and will answer to the name we call her,

Mistral’s “Fall of Europe”Mistral’s “Fall of Europe”

or if shot through with flames and metalor if shot through with flames and metalher limbs called Sicily, Flanders,her limbs called Sicily, Flanders,Normandy, Campagna, are all ablaze.Normandy, Campagna, are all ablaze.

A handful or two of grass and airA handful or two of grass and airis enough for prayer and compassion.is enough for prayer and compassion.Put away the loaf, the wine, the fruit,Put away the loaf, the wine, the fruit,Until the day of rejoicing and dancingUntil the day of rejoicing and dancingand arms wildly waving branches.and arms wildly waving branches.On this night, no tableOn this night, no tableBright with Falernian wine and poppies;Bright with Falernian wine and poppies;And no weeping; and no sleep..And no weeping; and no sleep..

Mistral’s “The Footprint”Mistral’s “The Footprint”Of the fleeing man I haveOf the fleeing man I haveonly the footprint,only the footprint,The weight of his body,The weight of his body,And the wind that blows him.And the wind that blows him.No signs, no name,No signs, no name, no country or town, . . .no country or town, . . .

Only the anguishOnly the anguishthat hurries his flight:that hurries his flight:hammering pulse,hammering pulse,gasping breath,gasping breath,glistening sweat,glistening sweat,teeth on edge,teeth on edge,and the hard dry windand the hard dry windthat hits his back.that hits his back.. . . . .. . . . .

Mistral’s “The Footprint”Mistral’s “The Footprint”I see, I countI see, I count

The two thousand footprints:The two thousand footprints:

I go running, runningI go running, running

across old Earth,across old Earth,

mixing up hismixing up his

poor tracks with mine,poor tracks with mine,

or I stop and erase themor I stop and erase them

with my wild hair,with my wild hair,

or facedown I lickor facedown I lick

away the footprints.away the footprints.

Mistral’s “The Footprint”Mistral’s “The Footprint”

But the white EarthBut the white Earth

turns eternal,turns eternal,

stretches endlessstretches endless

as a chain,as a chain,

lengthens out into a snake,lengthens out into a snake,

and the Lord God does not break its back.and the Lord God does not break its back.

And the footprints go onAnd the footprints go on

To the end of the world.To the end of the world.

Mistral’s “Jewish Refugee Mistral’s “Jewish Refugee Woman”Woman”

Farther than the west wind I go,Farther than the west wind I go,farther than the stormy petrel.farther than the stormy petrel.I stop, I ask the way, I walk,I stop, I ask the way, I walk,and walk, and get no sleep.and walk, and get no sleep.They cut my Earth away from me,They cut my Earth away from me,all they’re left me is the sea.all they’re left me is the sea.

Home, habits, household godsHome, habits, household godsAre back there in the village.Are back there in the village.Linden trees go by and beds of Linden trees go by and beds of

reedsreedsAnd the Rhine that taught me And the Rhine that taught me

speech.speech.I haven’t brought a sprig of mint,I haven’t brought a sprig of mint,The scent would make me weep.The scent would make me weep.All I’m bringing is my breath,All I’m bringing is my breath,My blood, my anxious heart.. . .My blood, my anxious heart.. . .

Mistral’s “Jewish Refugee Mistral’s “Jewish Refugee Woman”Woman”

At every turn of the roadAt every turn of the road

I leave some of my wealth behind,I leave some of my wealth behind,

a wave of pine resin,a wave of pine resin,

a tower of grove of oaks.a tower of grove of oaks.

My hand loses its gesturesMy hand loses its gestures

of making cider and bread.of making cider and bread.

Winnowed clean of memories,Winnowed clean of memories,

I will be naked when I reach the sea.I will be naked when I reach the sea.

Szymborska’s “Still”Szymborska’s “Still”In the sealed cars of freight trainsIn the sealed cars of freight trainsacross the country travels names,across the country travels names,but where are they going to go,but where are they going to go, and will they ever get out,and will they ever get out, don’t ask, can’t say, don’t know.don’t ask, can’t say, don’t know.

Nathan’s name bangs his fits on the wall.Nathan’s name bangs his fits on the wall.Isaac’s name sings in a maddened thrall.Isaac’s name sings in a maddened thrall.Sarah’s names cries that the water go Sarah’s names cries that the water go

firstfirstTo Aaron’s name which is dying of thirst.To Aaron’s name which is dying of thirst.

. . . . .. . . . .

Szymborska’s “Still”Szymborska’s “Still”A cloud made of people passed over the land.A cloud made of people passed over the land.From a large cloud a small rain, a sole tear was shed,From a large cloud a small rain, a sole tear was shed,a small rain, a sole tear, a season of lack. a small rain, a sole tear, a season of lack. Into a forest of black veer the tracks.Into a forest of black veer the tracks.

That’s so that’s so, go the wheels.That’s so that’s so, go the wheels.These woods have no clearing.These woods have no clearing.That’s so that’s so.That’s so that’s so.A cargo of cries disappearing.A cargo of cries disappearing.That’s so that’s so.That’s so that’s so.Awakened in deep night on hearingAwakened in deep night on hearingthat’s so that’s so,that’s so that’s so,the clatter of silence on silence.the clatter of silence on silence.

Szymborska’s “Starvation Camp at Szymborska’s “Starvation Camp at Jasko”Jasko”

Write this down. Write it. In ordinary inkWrite this down. Write it. In ordinary ink

on ordinary paper: they were given on food,on ordinary paper: they were given on food,

all died of hunger. all died of hunger. All. How many?All. How many?

It’s a large meadow. How much grassIt’s a large meadow. How much grass

was there per person.?was there per person.? Write it down: I don’t know. Write it down: I don’t know.

History rounds off skeletons to the nearest zero.History rounds off skeletons to the nearest zero.

. . . . .. . . . .

This is the meadow where it became flesh.This is the meadow where it became flesh.

But the meadow is silent as a bribed witness.But the meadow is silent as a bribed witness.

In the sunlight. Green. Over there is a forestIn the sunlight. Green. Over there is a forest

for chewing wood, for drinking form under the barkfor chewing wood, for drinking form under the bark——

a daily helping of landscape,a daily helping of landscape,

until one goes blind. Up there a bird,until one goes blind. Up there a bird,

Szymborska’s “Starvation Camp at Szymborska’s “Starvation Camp at Jasko”Jasko”

that moves across lips as a shadowthat moves across lips as a shadow

of its nutritious wings. Jaws opened,of its nutritious wings. Jaws opened,

teeth would chomp . . . . .teeth would chomp . . . . .

On a spit of barbed wireOn a spit of barbed wire

a man was swaying.a man was swaying.

They were singing with soil in their mouths.They were singing with soil in their mouths.

A lovely songA lovely song

about the way war hits you right in the about the way war hits you right in the heart.heart.

Write about the silence here.Write about the silence here.

Yes.Yes.

Mistral’s “My Social Beliefs”Mistral’s “My Social Beliefs”

Position as a pacifistPosition as a pacifist ““the normal reaction that war provokes the normal reaction that war provokes

in a woman: particularly in a former in a woman: particularly in a former teacher and a Spanish-American woman teacher and a Spanish-American woman who knows about the paucity of our who knows about the paucity of our resources.”resources.”

““a woman without a political party”a woman without a political party”

Szymborska’s “The End and the Szymborska’s “The End and the Beginning”Beginning”After every warAfter every warsomeone has to clean up.someone has to clean up.Things won’tThings won’tStraighten themselves up, after all. Straighten themselves up, after all.

Someone has to push the rubbleSomeone has to push the rubbleto the side of the road,to the side of the road,so the corpse-filled wagonsso the corpse-filled wagonscan pass.. . .can pass.. . .

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

Szymborska’s “The End and the Szymborska’s “The End and the Beginning”Beginning”

Photogenic it’s not,Photogenic it’s not,

and takes years.and takes years.

All the cameras have leftAll the cameras have left

for another war.for another war.

. . . . .. . . . .

Those who knewThose who knew

what was going on herwhat was going on her

must make way for must make way for

those who know little.those who know little.

And less than littleAnd less than little

And finally as little as And finally as little as nothing.nothing.

. . . . . . . . . .

In the grass that has In the grass that has overgrownovergrown

causes and effects,causes and effects,

Someone must be stretched Someone must be stretched outout

blade of grass in his mouthblade of grass in his mouth

gazing at the clouds.gazing at the clouds.

Szymborska’s “Reality Szymborska’s “Reality Demands”Demands”

Reality demandsReality demandswe also state the following:we also state the following:life goes on.life goes on.AT Cannae and Borodino,AT Cannae and Borodino,At Kosovo Polje and in Guernica.At Kosovo Polje and in Guernica.

There is a gas stationThere is a gas stationin a small plaza in Jerichoin a small plaza in Jerichoand freshly paintedand freshly paintedBenches near Bila Hora.Benches near Bila Hora.Letters travel Letters travel between Pearl Harbor and between Pearl Harbor and

Hastings,Hastings,. . . . .. . . . .

Szymborska’s “Reality Szymborska’s “Reality Demands”Demands”

So much keeps happening,So much keeps happening,that it must be happening everywhere.that it must be happening everywhere.Where not a stone is left standing,Where not a stone is left standing,there is an ice-cream truckthere is an ice-cream truckBesieged by children.Besieged by children.. . . . . . . . . . What moral flows from this? Probably none.What moral flows from this? Probably none.But what really flows is quickly drying blood,But what really flows is quickly drying blood,And as always, some rivers and clouds.And as always, some rivers and clouds.

On the tragic mountain passesOn the tragic mountain passesThe wind blows hats off headsThe wind blows hats off headsand we cannot help—and we cannot help—but laugh.but laugh.

Szymborska’s “Children of an Szymborska’s “Children of an Era”Era”

Mistral’s “The Forbidden Mistral’s “The Forbidden Word”Word”