Thinking about Wislawa Szymborska’s “The Century’s Decline” 25 years on. #electronic

The 21st tried to calm the chaos. It could not prove a tonic, And even with decades more to write, its gait still shaky, its breath is gasps.

So many things just happened Not exactly in the cards, And the expected soothing chords Not heard.

Thinking and plans, among other things, were supposed to be the way to go.

We hoped the explosion of fear would spur caution. Facts were supposed to hit home before the big lie. … “We can’t just watch?” someone asked me in a letter. I had meant to ask her the same question.

Once again, and as before, It can be seen above, the most persistent questions are foolish ones. (the foolish ones)