We treat each other with exceeding courtesy;we says, it's great to see you after all these years.Our tigers drink milk.Our hawks tread the ground.Our sharks have all drowned.Our wolves yawn beyond the open cage.Our snakes have shed their lightning,our apes their flights of fancy,our peacocks have renounced their plumes.The bats flew out of our hair long ago.We fall silent in mid-sentence,all smiles, past help.Our humansdon't know how to talk to one another.
The poem by Wisława Szymborska presents a portrayal of strained human connections. It highlights the superficial civility maintained in interactions, where people greet each other warmly while ignoring deeper issues. The imagery of various animals symbolizes lost freedom and the decline of their natural behaviors, reflecting humanity's own struggles to communicate authentically.
The closing lines underscore a sense of melancholy and disconnection, revealing that despite outward appearances, individuals experience a profound silence in their relationships. Szymborska's work prompts reflection on how modern communication has become inadequate, urging readers to recognize and address the barriers that prevent genuine exchanges among people.
Rate the Quote
User Reviews
Other quotes in book quote
All the things you can talk about in anyone's work are the things that are least important.
Race of Cain, ascend to heaven, And cast God down upon the earth!
