On the 5th of August 1970 at three in the afternoon

Vera Kowalewska was walking along a hot street in Warszawa

The heat and a series of late nights had made her drowsy

And she suddenly tripped and fell violently to the ground

The fall caused her to become disorientated for a moment

As she gained her senses she became aware of a tall man

The tall man asked her in English if she had suffered any injury

Apart from her bloodied knee and grazed palms

He gently helped her to her feet

She answered him in English

Which she had learned when at university

They sat on a nearby bench while she recovered

Vera Kowalewska was a native of the capital city

And lived with her paternal aunt in a riverside apartment

She was known by all as Little Vera

Due to her height and sparrow like appearance

Stephen bathed her injured knee with water

And bandaged it with one of his mothers handkerchiefs

At first she did not speak as she was very embarrassed

The name of our once beautiful city stems

From a 13th-century legend

Of a fisherman named Wars and his wife, Sawa

Where are you from

I am from Leatherhead in England

It is not far from London

Is this your first visit to Poland

No it is my third visit

Is there any reason

Because I am of Polish blood

What is your name

Stephen

Stephen Smith

That is my English name

My Polish name is Zbigniew

Just Zbigniew

Yes I was never told of my other name

I am Vera Kowalewska

And as you can see I am very clumsy

Most of my friends call me Little Vera

Because of my size and waif like features

You are very tall my gallant Englishman

And you have the most beautiful eyes



to be continued