I Lost a Friend

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was a writer. In Kraków, people recall that he lived like a Franciscan monk, never ate too much, went everywhere by foot, and would lend any money he made on literature to others. He would chronically visit people and listen to them.

The loss of a close friend is always extremely painful. If this friend happened to have four paws, like Bonzo, the bereavement even changes the way you view your two-legged acquaintances.

Bonzo was getting older and his sense of smell was getting worse. One afternoon, with my weak eyesight, I was able to spot a rabbit prancing about the fields close to our house, but he couldn’t feel it or see it, though he seemed to have been astutely and carefully scouting the area. He finally managed to catch sight of the rabbit. He ran off in pursuit, but he looked like an old man, legs shaking, who was trying to catch up with a strong young lad.

He was getting weaker and weaker. It all seemed to suggest that he wouldn’t live much longer, so one day I vented my woes: “Why is it that good honest dogs live shorter lives than people!” Take that 50-year-old merchant woman, Dzumal, a sweet-talker and swindler; well, she’ll still be around for another 10 or 20 years, beguiling

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Jan Stoberski:

was a writer. In Kraków, people recall that he lived like a Franciscan monk, never ate too much, went everywhere by foot, and would lend any money he made on literature to others. He would chronically visit people and listen to them.

Translation: Mark Ordon

Publish date: 09.11.2019

Also read:

Jan Stoberski:

was a writer. In Kraków, people recall that he lived like a Franciscan monk, never ate too much, went everywhere by foot, and would lend any money he made on literature to others. He would chronically visit people and listen to them.

Enough of mindless breathing! Let’s stop wasting air, inhaled without any pleasure. In times that are laced with thick smog, we recall a text from the archives of “Przekrój”.

A few breaths of fresh air often provide me with more energy than a multi-course dinner. Because, although a feeling of worry plagues me and all I want to do is heave a big sigh, upon swallowing a larger portion of oxygen once or twice, my mood immediately becomes brighter, while my deep breaths finally turn into bursts of laughter.

Also read:

I Catch Joy from the Air

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