Anna Swir (Świrszczyńska) (1909–1984) was born in Warsaw. A member of the Polish Resistance, she served as a military nurse during the Warsaw Uprising; at one point she came within an hour of being executed before she was spared. The author of six poetry collections, Swir often described the suffering witnessed during wartime. Talking to My Body (Copper Canyon Press, 1996) deals frankly with sensuality and the female body.

Priceless Gifts

by Anna Swir

An empty day without events.
And that is why
it grew immense
as space. And suddenly
happiness of being
entered me.

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