Out of a hundred people
those who always know better
---fifty-two,
doubting every step
---nearly all the rest,
glad to lend a hand
if it doesn’t take too long
---as high as forty-nine
always good
because they can’t be otherwise
---four, well maybe five
able to admire without envey
---eighteen,
suffering illusions
induced by fleeting youth
---sixty, give or take a few,
not to be taken lightly
---forty and four,
living in constant fear
of someone or something
---seventy-seven
capable of happiness
---twenty-something tops
harmless singly,
savage in crowds
---half at least,
cruel
when forced by circumstances
---better not to know
even ballpark figures,
wise after the fact
---just a couple more
than wise before it,
taking only things from life
---thirty
(I wish I were wrong),
hunched in pain,
no flashlight in the dark
---eighty-three
sooner or later,
righteous
---thirty-five, which is a lot
righteous
and understanding
---three,
worthy of compassion
ninety-nine,
mortal
---a hundred out of a hundred.
Thus far this figure still remains unchanged
Translated from the Polish by Stanislaw Baranczak and Clare Cavanagh
