Moja Pierwsza Bitwa: Opowiadanie Sierżanta

The narrator, a newly commissioned sergeant in a light artillery unit, treats his first combat like a first love—brimming with hope, illusion, and a mix of terror and pride. He wanders post‑war Warsaw, watching disciplined grenadiers and a flamboyant cavalry officer on a white horse, each tableau stirring his longing to belong. When a spontaneous crowd of peasants, priests and makeshift militia surges toward the city gates, he is swept into the chaotic procession of war.

Caught between polished uniforms and the rugged rows of local kosynierzy, he wonders whether to adopt the graceful bearing of a cavalryman or the fierce improvisation of a peasant fighter. The narrative captures cheering crowds, solemn blessings, and the clatter of makeshift weapons, painting Warsaw as a living battlefield of emotions. Through vivid descriptions of drums, horse hooves and shouted prayers, the sergeant feels an unforgettable intensity that will linger like a sweet, haunting reverie.