by Anna Swir
We were afraid, building the barricade
under fire.
The barkeeper, the jeweler’s lover, the barber,
all of us cowards.
The servant-girl fell to the ground
hauling a pavement stone, and we were very afraid,
all of us cowards–
the streetsweeper, the stallholder, the pensioner.
The pharmacist fell to the ground,
dragging the toilet door,
and we were even more afraid, the smuggler-woman,
the dressmaker, the street driver,
all of us cowards.
The boy from the reform school fell
dragging a sandbag,
so we were really afraid.
Although no one forced us,
we did build the barricade
under fire.
Translated from the Polish by Boris Dralyuk
Anna Świrszczyńska (1909–1984) was a renowned Polish poet celebrated for her vivid and powerful poetry. Born in Warsaw, Świrszczyńska’s work spans from early modernist experiments to deeply personal and political reflections. Her notable collections include Building the Barricade (1974) and Talking to My Body (1976), which address themes of war, trauma, and the female experience with striking honesty and emotional depth. Her poetry often reflects her experiences as a resistance fighter during World War II and her observations of post-war Polish society. Świrszczyńska’s innovative use of language and her focus on the personal and collective aspects of human experience have earned her a lasting place in Polish literature.