Nude Wislawa Descending A Staircase

I went to England and laughed
at all the funny cars,
little nations do have little minds

Szymborska tried to tell us.
I went to America and was appalled
at the gas-guzzling giants,

big nations do have big, dumb minds.
I’m putting words in Szymborska’s mouth,
of course, but that’s ok.

I went to Paris and saw them crash,
they spoke just like de Sade,
dirty nations do have dirty minds

Szymborska tried to tell us.
I went to Poland
and laughed at all the funny scars.