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Polish Literature Resources

Polish Literature Resources

Here is an extensive list of resources on Polish literature arranged by authors from Amber to Wojaczek.  This can help you familiarize yourself with authors in history that influenced today’s literature.  Take a look at our other resources in different areas of English to broaden your knowledge during your studies.

Current

Amber, Ludwika. (b. 1948)

Baran, Józef. (b. 1947)

Baran, Marcin. (b. 1963) “Hot Embitterments.”

Barańczak, Stanisław. (b. 1946)

Baterowicz, Marek. (b. 1944)

  • “Prophecy.” Reisner, Ryszard (trans.). Modern Poetry in Translation New Series 18.
  • “Under the Sun’s Divine Eye.” Reisner, Ryszard (trans.). Modern Poetry in Translation New Series 18.
  • Various Poems. Reisner, Ryszard J. (trans.). Ars Interpres No. 4 & 5.
  • “Bridge in Avignon”
  • “Catulli Veronensis Liber”
  • “Letter from the Pacific”
  • “Morning”
  • “A Place in the Atlas”
  • “Ritual”
  • “slowly I go by Tiberius bridge…”
  • “Under the arch of triumphant Augustus…”
  • “Venice”

Benka, Urszula. (b. 1955)

  • Various Poems. Pirie, Donald (trans.). Modern Polish Poetry.
  • “Adam Hertz the Builder”
  • “Auto-da-fé”
  • “A Convent of Schizophrenic Nuns”
  • “Dream Me”
  • “The Four Horsemen of Human Passion”
  • “Joy”
  • “The Last Stop Cafe”
  • “Pedestal”
  • “Temptation”
  • “Well with Demon”

Beszczyńska, Zofia. (b. 1951) Various Poems.

  • Zofia Beszczyńska.
  • “autumn: time of water…” from Island of Lights
  • “the dream is the tree of reality…” from Island of Lights
  • “he squatted on my windowsill yet did not allow…” from Island of Lights
  • “I am reading…” from Magic Places
  • “I am the rain which will open everything…” from Island of Lights
  • “I shut myself off from people I open…” from Island of Lights
  • “I wanted you to go away and all are gone…” from Island of Lights
  • “I was told the town was magic…” from Magic Places
  • “the soul of my cat…” from Island of Lights
  • “they make believe they are sleeping…” from Island of Lights

 

Bielobradek, Joanna (AKA Morro, Andrea). (b. 1943) “And When I Return to Poland,” “Cricket,” and “Lettuce.”

  • Bielobradek, Ralph and Jesse Glass (trans.). Perihelion 11.8

Birenbaum, Halina (b. 1929).

Braun, Kazimierz. (b. 1936)

  • Passages from Day of Witness Foreword, Ch. 5, and Ch. 8. Zakrzewski, Christopher Adam. The Sarmatian Review XXI.1

Broda, Marzena. (b. 1966) Various Poems.

  • Modern Polish Poetry.
  • “Close my eyes, still my voice…” Pirie, Donald (trans.)
  • “House of Red Brick.” Pirie, Donald (trans.)
  • “Hymn.” Pirie, Donald (trans.)
  • “In a Provincial Cinema” Atkinson, Ela Kotkowska (trans.).
  • “A Motif from Brodsky.” Pirie, Donald (trans.)
  • “Oh, My Love…” Pirie, Donald (trans.)
  • “To wake up before the sunrise…” Pirie, Donald (trans.)
  • “Watery World.” Pirie, Donald (trans.)
  • “What Version of Truth Will Survive?” Pirie, Donald (trans.)

Bryll, Ernest. (b. 1935) “The Charge,”  “In a Fever,” and “Soot.”

Cegiełka, Piotr. (b. 1978) “A Zander in Amber” from Probability.

 

Chałko, Zbigniew Tadeusz. (1921-1994)

Chwin, Stefan. (b. 1949)

Czaykowski, Bogdan. (1932-2007) “Witold Gombrowicz and Czesław Miłosz: the Two Polarities of Twentieth-Century Polish Literature?”

Czekanowicz, Anna. (b. 1952) Various Poems.

  • Pirie, Donald (trans.). Modern Polish Poetry.
  • “Iowa Iowa Iowa”
  • “Lady Macbeth of the Twentieth-Century”
  • “Marina Tsvetaeva”
  • “my fear wears a red dress…”
  • “My Prophecy”
  • “Saint”
  • “Time Pretending That It Passes”
  • “Travel Poem”
  • “Witch”

Czyżewski, Krzysztof. (b. 1958) “A Time for the Province”

Dąbrowski, Tadeusz. (b. 1979)

 

Drotkiewicz, Agnieszka. (b. 1983) Passage from Paris London Dachau

Dukaj, Jacek. (b. 1974) Passage from Other Songs

Dzido, Marta. (b. 1981) Passage from The Clam

Ficowski, Jerzy. (1924-2006)

  • “Kazakhstan ZSSR,” “List of Telephone Subscribers, Warsaw, 1938-39,” and “The Queue.” Reisner, Ryszard. Ars Interpres No. 6.
  • Various Poems.  Modern Polish Poetry.
  • “Ex-Jewish Things.” Barańczak, Stanisław and Clare Cavanagh (trans.)
  • “From the History of Journalism” Barańczak, Stanisław and Clare Cavanagh (trans.)
  • “How to Spoil Cannibals’ Fun” Barańczak, Stanisław and Clare Cavanagh (trans.)
  • “I’ll Tell You a Story.” Trans. Barańczak, Stanisław and Clare Cavanagh (trans.)
  • “Where the Lemkos Were.” Martin, W. (trans.)
  • Passage from The Demons of Strangers’ Fear. Instytut Książki. Brand, William (trans.).

Fiedorczuk, Julia. (b. 1975) “November on the Narew.”

Filipiak, Izabela. (b. 1961) Various Poems.

  • Kovacik, Karen (trans.). Izabela Filipiak Homepage.
  • “Mme Intuita, Vampire-Killer, Grants an Interview”
  • “Chrysalis”
  • “Razor”
  • “Metamorphoses”
  • “Mme Intuita Passing As a Phoenix”
  • “New Age Whore”
  • “Non omnis moriar…”
  • “Conversations”
  • “Madame Intuita”

Filipowicz, Kornel. (1913 – 1990) “What Is in a Man?”

Fink, Ida. (b. 1921)

Foks, Dark. (b. 1966) “Farewell, Haiku”

Fox, Marta. (b. 1952) “All the Mornings of the World”

Frajlich, Anna. (b. 1942) “From Nature” from Between Dawn and the Wind

Gawronkiewicz, Krystof (Krzysztof). (b. 1970) Passage from Essence

 

Głowacki, Janusz. (b. 1938)

Goerke, Natasza. (b. 1962)

Gretkowska, Manuela. (b. 1964) Passage from Polka.

Grochola, Katarzyna. (b. 1957) Passage from Never in My Life

Grynberg, Henryk. (b. 1936)

  • Various Poems. Poetry on the Shoah. Zwoje: The Scrolls.
  • “Legacy.” Lourie, Richard (trans.)
  • “Orpheus II.” (unknown trans.)
  • “The Poplars.” Lourie, Richard (trans.)
  • “Would Not Have Crucified (II).” Szporer, Michael (trans.)
  • Passage from Exiles. Lloyd-Jones, Antonia (trans.). Instytut Książki.

Grzebalski, Mariusz. (b. 1969) “Slaughterhouse” and “Then”

Gutorow, Jacek. (b. 1970) Various Poems.

  • Kennedy, David (trans.) and Jacek Gutorow (trans.). Words Without Borders 2005. Follow links on the right.
  • “Fragment”
  • “Padua”
  • “Paints and Smears”
  • “The Prelude”
  • “Tuscany”

 

Harasymowicz, Jerzy. (1933-1999)

  • Various Poems from I Live on a Raft. Mayne, Seymour and Jarosław Sokol (trans.). Library and Archives Canada.
  • “Autumn”
  • “Autumn in the Apartment”
  • “December”
  • “Early Spring 1987”
  • “A Few Details”
  • “I Live on a Raft”
  • “Morning in the Apartment Block”
  • “This and That”

Hartwig, Julia. (b. 1921)

  • “Everything to Measure,” “Sentence,” and “Whenever I Meet.” AGNI 2006.
  • Various Poems. Barańczak, Stanisław and Clare Cavanagh (trans.). Modern Polish Poetry.
  • “Above Us”
  • “Before Dawn”
  • “But Of Course”
  • “Hesitating over a Young Poet’s Book”
  • “In Your Eyes”
  • “A Need”
  • “Toward the End”
  • “What Can They”
  • “Who Says” Trans”
  • “Your Nature”
  • “The Ubiquity of Roses Wearied Me” Clare Cavanagh (trans.)
  • “Nothing in Common” Clare Cavanagh (trans.)
  • “November” Trzeciak, Joanna (trans.)
  • “Relief Troops” Clare Cavanagh (trans.)
  • “Choice.” Carpenter, John and Bogdana Carpenter (trans.). The Manhattan Review 13.2.
  • “Ghosts.” The Manhattan Review 12.2.

Hen, Józef. (b. 1923) Passage from My Friend the King

Herbert, Zbigniew. (1924-1998)

Herling-Grudzinski, Gustaw. (1919-2000) Passage from the Journal Written at Night

Huberath, Marek. (b. 1954) “Yoo Retoont, Sneogg. Ay Noo.”

Huelle, Paweł. (b. 1957)

  • “Abulafia” and Passages from Castorp and Mercedes Benz. Lloyd-Jones, Antonia (trans.). Words Without Borders 2004, 2007, and 2009. Follow the links on the right.

Jagielski, Wojciech. (b. 1960)

Jagodziński, Marcin. (b. 1971) “Third Rail”

Janko, Anna. (b. 1957) “At the Threshold Which Remained” and “When Autumn’s Home, Close the Shutters.” The Dirty Goat. Follow the link at the bottom.

Janusz, Grzegorz. (b. 1970) Passage from Essence

Jarniewicz, Jerzy. (b. 1958) “Covering Your Traces”

Jaworski, Krzysztof. (1966 – ) “I Used to be a Slender Guy”

Jurewicz, Aleksander (AKA jota and Łapian, Olek and Kazanow, Oleg and AJ) (b. 1952) Various Poems.

  • Pirie, Donald (trans.). Modern Polish Poetry
  • “1952”
  • “An Application for an Extension of Life”
  • “Clouds over Lida”
  • “Haemoglobin”
  • “The Interiors of our Homes”
  • “Lida”
  • “Not in Time”
  • “Suddenly”

Kamieńska, Anna. (1920 – 1986)

  • Various Poems. Przeszowski, Tomasz P. and Desmond Graham (trans.). Brindin Press. Also in Polish.
  • “Job’s Return.”
  • “Thanking.”
  • “Those who carry pianos…”
  • Various Poems.  Modern Polish Poetry.
  • “Closed Eyes.” Barańczak, Stanisław and Clare Cavanagh (trans.)
  • “Cosmic Wrappings.”Bassnett, Susan and Piotr Kuhiwczak (trans.)
  • “A Cross.” Barańczak, Stanisław and Clare Cavanagh (trans.)
  • “Funny.” Barańczak, Stanisław and Clare Cavanagh (trans.)
  • “Given Away.” Bassnett, Susan and Piotr Kuhiwczak (trans.)
  • “Heaven.” Bassnett, Susan and Piotr Kuhiwczak (trans.)
  • “History.” Barańczak, Stanisław and Clare Cavanagh (trans.)
  • “The Key.” Bassnett, Susan and Piotr Kuhiwczak (trans.)
  • “Little Dorrit.” Bassnett, Susan and Piotr Kuhiwczak (trans.)
  • “Loving My Enemies.” Bassnett, Susan and Piotr Kuhiwczak (trans.)
  • “The Other World.” Barańczak, Stanisław and Clare Cavanagh (trans.)
  • “A Prayer That Will Be Answered.” Barańczak, Stanisław and Clare Cavanagh (trans.)
  • “Service.” Barańczak, Stanisław and Clare Cavanagh (trans.)
  • “Two Faiths.” Barańczak, Stanisław and Clare Cavanagh (trans.)
  • “Youth.” Barańczak, Stanisław and Clare Cavanagh (trans.)
  • “A Prayer That Will Be Answered.” Barańczak, Stanisław and Clare Cavanagh (trans.). Foothill Technology High School.
  • “A Prayer That Will Be Answered.” Barańczak, Stanisław and Clare Cavanagh (trans.). Panhala.net.

Kapuściński, Ryszard. (1932-2007) Passage from Self-Portrait of a Reporter

Karpowicz, Tymoteusz. (1921-2005) Various Poems.

  • Lituanus Vol. 39.4.
  • “Circle of the Dance of Love.” Kujawinski, Frank (trans.)
  • “Fish.” Zak, Ewa (trans.)
  • “Incomprehensible Cry.”
  • “In This Instant.” Kujawinski, Frank (trans.).
  • “A Lesson with the Magic Rabbit.” Kujawinski, Frank (trans.)
  • “Lupine Cantata.” Kujawinski, Frank (trans.)
  • “A Moment in the Side Aisle.” Zak, Ewa (trans.)
  • “Morning Dialogue.” Zak, Ewa (trans.)
  • “Musical Evening Stroll.” Kujawinski, Frank (trans.)
  • “Reversed Light.” Zak, Ewa (trans.)
  • “A Tombstone Showing Two Angels.” Zak, Ewa (trans.)
  • “Voyage of a Branch.” Kujawinski, Frank (trans.)

Kern, Ludwik Jerzy. (b. 1921) Passage from Karampuk

 

Bogumił Kielar, Marzanna. (b. 1963)

  • Various Poems. Croft, Jennifer (trans.). 91st Meridian 2.2, University of Iowa.
  • “1912”
  • “even an hour ago the morning mist…”
  • “She”
  • “the sun appears only early mornings and late afternoons…”
  • “Visby”
  • “The Hawk”
  • “low shore of the night before us…”
  • “Telephone”
  • “Thaw”
  • “sun setting in August…”
  • “we ran into harsh shadow of an oak…”
  • “When time, like a debris flow…” Wójcik-Leese, Elżbieta (trans.).  Magma Poetry Online 33.

Kobierski, Radosław. (b. 1971) Passsage from Harar

Kochan, Marek. (b. 1969) Passage from The Ballad of the Good Delinquent

Koehler, Krzysztof. (b. 1963)

  • Various Poems. Martin, W. (trans.). The Sarmatian Review XVIII.2.
  • “Eclogue. August”
  • “Shrine”
  • “And suddenly the train…”
  • “Bound every more tightly…”
  • “Hands covering face…”
  • “Two trails of smoke…”
  • “What more? What further impetus…”
  • Various Poems. Modern Polish Poetry.
  • “An August Pastoral.” Pirie, Donald (trans.).
  • “Dante and the Poets.” Pirie, Donald (trans.).
  • “Memory.” Martin, W. (trans.)
  • “Ovid. The Last Years.” Pirie, Donald (trans.).
  • “Ulysses and Penelope Pirie, Donald (trans.).
  • “An Unsuccessful Pilgrimage, Oh, to a Particular Place.” Martin, W. (trans.)
  • “Wilanów.” Pirie, Donald (trans.).
  • “Carrying the Burden of Freedom: Some Thoughts on Polish Literature After Ten Years of Political Freedom.” Toronto Slavic Quarterly.
  • “O’Harism.” Martin, W. (trans.). Modern Polish Poetry

Kornhauser, Julian. (b. 1946) “Been and Gone”

 

Kowalewska, Hanna. (b. 1960)

Kozioł, Urszula. (b. 1931)

  • Various Poems. Modern Polish Poetry.
  • “From a Journey.” Bassnett, Susan and Piotr Kuhiwczak (trans.)
  • “Hypernakedness.” Bassnett, Susan and Piotr Kuhiwczak (trans.)
  • “In Liquid State.” Kotkowska-Atkinson, Ela (trans.)
  • “A Meat Recipe.” Bassnett, Susan and Piotr Kuhiwczak (trans.)
  • “Non Finito I.” Martin, W. (trans.)
  • “A Polish Lesson.” Barańczak, Stanisław and Clare Cavanagh (trans.)
  • “A Return to Not Knowing.” Bassnett, Susan and Piotr Kuhiwczak (trans.)
  • “A Single Moment.” Martin, W. (trans.)
  • “Spring Relief.” Bassnett, Susan and Piotr Kuhiwczak (trans.)
  • “such heat…” Martin, W. (trans.)
  • “Summer.” Bassnett, Susan and Piotr Kuhiwczak (trans.)
  • “A Thousand and One Nights.” Bassnett, Susan and Piotr Kuhiwczak (trans.)
  • “We Won’t Look Truth in the Eye.” Barańczak, Stanisław and Clare Cavanagh (trans.)
  • “You live by the very edges…” Barańczak, Stanisław and Clare Cavanagh (trans.)
  • “The Dark” from Poems. Grol-Prokopczyk, Regina (trans.). Host Publications. Also in Polish.  Follow the link at the bottom.
  • “Psalm.” Plebanek, Barbara and Tony Howard (trans.). Poetry International. Also in Polish.

Krajewski, Marek. (b. 1966) Passage from End of the World in Beslau

 

Krall, Hanna. (b. 1937)

Krynicki, Ryszard. (b. 1943)

  • Various Works. Valles, Alissa (trans.). Words Without Borders.
  • “Save Me, Guide Me
  • “Fragments from the year 1989
  • “(from Meister Eckhardt or Zohar?)”
  • “This Year”
  • “Who Doesn’t Exist”
  • “Job’s Guilt”
  • “Buddha, Christ”
  • “He Who Always Knows”
  • “A Stone from New World”
  • “The Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest”
  • “After Rain”
  • “Return from Assisi”
  • “Sweet, innocent”
  • “Rue de Poitiers”
  • Various Poems. Modern Polish Poetry. Barańczak, Stanisław and Clare Cavanagh (trans.).

Kuciak, Agnieszka. (b. 1970)

  • Various Poems. Reisner, Ryszard (trans.). Ars Interpres No. 6.
  • “And to Drop Absent-Minded Oranges”
  • “Meter”
  • “Montgomery”
  • “Zen Before Clock”
  • “Depression.” Kovacik, Karen and Ewa Chruściel (trans.). Brindin Press. Also in Polish.

Kuczok, Wojciech. (b. 1972)

  • Passage from Confected Stories. Lloyd-Jones, Antonia (trans.). Instytut Książki.
  • Passage from Muck. Lloyd-Jones, Antonia (trans.). Instytut Książki.

Kuhn-Cichocka, Anna. (b. 1940) Various Poems.

 

Kulesza, Norbert. (b. 1961)

  • “Awakenings, Nothing of Importance”
  • “By the River”
  • “Cosmos”
  • “Drop Your Wantings”
  • “Eagles”
  • “Eternity”
  • “a foot feels the moan of a stone…”
  • “Guru”
  • “My life had one colour…”
  • “None”
  • “One Two”
  • “On the Scaffolding”
  • “The Will to Live”

Lars, Krystyna. (b. 1950) Various Poems.

  • Pirie, Donald (trans.). Modern Polish Poetry.
  • “Black Uniform”
  • “Cariatids”
  • “City”
  • “The Corner Room”
  • “Giving Birth to a Knife”
  • “The Guillotine Speaks to Danton”
  • Passage from “Hotel”
  • “The Last Compartment”
  • Passages from “Public Baths”
  • “That Was Me”

Lem, Stanisław. (1921-2006)

  • “Megabyte Bomb.” Brand, William (trans.). Instytut Książki.
  • Various Works. Stanisław Lem: The Official Site. Follow the links.
  • “Birnam Wood” from Fiasco. Kandel, Michael (trans.)
  • Passage from The Chain of Chance. Iribarne, Louis (trans.)
  • “A Country Funeral” from The Hospital of the Transfiguration. Trans. William Brand.
  • Passage from Eden. Heine, Marc E. (trans.)
  • Passage from The Futurological Congress. Kandel, Michael (trans.)
  • Passage from Golem XIV. Heine, Marc E. (trans.)
  • Passage from Highcastle. Kandel, Michael (trans.)
  • Passage from His Master’s Voice. Kandel, Michael (trans.)
  • “How the World Was Saved” from The Cyberiad. Kandel, Michael (trans.)
  • Passage from The Investigation. (unknown trans.)
  • Passage from The Invincible. Kandel, Michael (trans.)
  • Passage from Memoirs Found in a Bathtub. Kandel, Michael (trans.)
  • Passage from Memoirs of the Space Traveller. Kandel, Michael (trans.)
  • “Tale of [a] Machine That Fought a Dragon” from The Mortal Engines. Kandel, Michael (trans.)
  • Passage from Peace on Earth. Kandel, Michael (trans.)
  • Passage from Return from the Stars. Marszal, Barabara and Frank Simpson (trans.)
  • Passage from Solaris. Kilmartin, Joanna and Steve Fox (trans.)
  • “The 22nd Voyage” from The Star Diaries. (unknown trans.)
  • Passage from Terminus. Iribarne, Louis (trans.)
  • Passage from Dialogs. Prengel, Frank (trans.)
  • Passage from Science Fiction and Futurology. Abernathy, Robert (trans.)
  • Passage from Summa Technologaie. Prengel, Frank (trans.)
  • “A Challenging New World” from A Blink of an Eye. Manetti, Christina (trans.). Central Europe Review 3.13.

 

Limon, Jerzy. (b. 1950) Passage from The Whale

Lipska, Ewa. (b. 1945)

  • Various Poems. Davidson, Robin and Margret Grebowicz (trans.). 91st Meridian 2.2. University of Iowa.
  • “2001”
  • “December 31, 1999”
  • “The Music Lesson”
  • “The New Century”
  • Passage from “The Absurdity of Beauty”
  • “11 September 2001”
  • “The Abyss”
  • “Helplessness”
  • “Plum Cake”
  • Various Poems. Brindin Press. Also in Polish.
  • “Confessions of a Courtesan.” Reisner, Ryszard J. (trans.).
  • “John Keats.” Bogoczek, Barbara and Tony Howard (trans.).
  • “Little Girl C.” Bogoczek, Barbara and Tony Howard (trans.).
  • “A Moment.” Bogoczek, Barbara and Tony Howard (trans.).
  • “My Translators.” Reisner, Ryszard J. (trans.).
  • “Unwillingly.” Reisner, Ryszard J. (trans.).
  • Various Poems. Davidson, Robin and Ewa Elżbieta Nowakowska (trans.). Words Without Borders. Follow the links on the right.
  • “The New Century”
  • “Number One”
  • “Indiscretion”
  • “A Splinter”
  • “The Smells of Evil”
  • “A Juicer”
  • Various Poems. Reisner, Ryszard J. (trans.). Ars Interpres No. 4 & 5.
  • “Cafe Museum”
  • “Christmas Time”
  • “Helplessness”
  • “The Holy Order of Tourists”
  • “If God Exists”
  • “Juice Extractor”
  • “A Slip of Attention”
  • “Somewhere Else”
  • “Somewhere There”
  • Various Poems. Modern Polish Poetry.
  • “Children.” Bassnett, Susan and Piotr Kuhiwczak (trans.)
  • “Dictation.” Barańczak, Stanisław and Clare Cavanagh (trans.)
  • “Envoy.” Barańczak, Stanisław and Clare Cavanagh (trans.)
  • “From the Gulf Stream of Sleep.” Barańczak, Stanisław and Clare Cavanagh (trans.)
  • “If God exists…” Bassnett, Susan and Piotr Kuhiwczak (trans.)
  • “Manifesto.” Bassnett, Susan and Piotr Kuhiwczak (trans.)
  • “My Loneliness.” Bassnett, Susan and Piotr Kuhiwczak (trans.)
  • “On Shores.” Bassnett, Susan and Piotr Kuhiwczak (trans.)
  • “On War.” Bassnett, Susan and Piotr Kuhiwczak (trans.)
  • “Questions at a Poetry Reading.” Bassnett, Susan and Piotr Kuhiwczak (trans.)
  • “To Marianne Büttrich.” Barańczak, Stanisław and Clare Cavanagh (trans.)
  • “The Wall.” Barańczak, Stanisław and Clare Cavanagh (trans.)
  • “Witness.” Bassnett, Susan and Piotr Kuhiwczak (trans.)
  • “We 1998.” Cavanagh, Clare (trans.)
  • “The Beginning of the Week.” Davidson, Robin and Margret Grebowicz (trans.). Quarterly West 55.
  • “Hannah Arendt.” Cavanagh, Clare (trans.). AGNI 53.
  • “Orchestra.” Reisner, Ryszard (trans.). Ars Interpres No. 7.

Loebl, Bogdan. (b. 1932) Passage from The Golden Trumpet

Machej, Zbigniew. (b. 1958)

Maj, Bronisław. (b. 1953)

  • “I lie with my face low…” and “Why don’t I have…” Cavanagh, Clare (trans.). Words Without Borders 2004. Follows the links on the right.
  • Various Poems. Kietlinska, Katarzyna and David Malcolm (trans.). The Sarmatian Review XIV.2.
  • “Do I Have a Right?”
  • “Going On”
  • “Left Over”
  • “No One, Everyone”
  • Various Poems. Cross Currents Vol. 12. Starts at:
  • “How.” Barańczak, Stanisław and Clare Cavanagh (trans.)
  • “I See a Gray House.” Barańczak, Stanisław and Clare Cavanagh (trans.)
  • “No More.” Barańczak, Stanisław and Clare Cavanagh (trans.)
  • “No One, Everyone.” Barańczak, Stanisław and Clare Cavanagh (trans.)
  • “No One Recognizes It as His Own.” Carpenter, Bogdana and John Carpenter (trans.)
  • “September, Noon.” Carpenter, Bogdana and John Carpenter (trans.)
  • “Still.” Barańczak, Stanisław and Clare Cavanagh (trans.)
  • “This Life Doubled.” Carpenter, Bogdana and John Carpenter (trans.)
  • “Today.” Barańczak, Stanisław and Clare Cavanagh (trans.)
  • “What They Say Today Is Not True.” Carpenter, Bogdana and John Carpenter (trans.)
  • Various Poems. Modern Polish Poetry.
  • “At Night, on a Bench before my House.” Cavanagh, Clare (trans.)
  • “Evening behind the wall a child wails . . .” Pirie, Donald (trans.)
  • “If I will ever tell . . .” Carpenter, Bogdana and John Carpenter (trans.).
  • “It takes just a few minutes: the largest market square . . .” Barańczak, Stanisław and Clare Cavanagh (trans.)
  • “May 13, 1981.” Barańczak, Stanisław and Clare Cavanagh (trans.)
  • “Night in the railway station . . .” Carpenter, Bogdana and John Carpenter (trans.).
  • “Rain outside a window, a glass of tea on the table . . .” Barańczak, Stanisław and Clare Cavanagh (trans.)
  • “Request.” Cavanagh, Clare (trans.)
  • “These are strong, calm words . . .” Pirie, Donald (trans.)
  • “This city died. Blue streetcars moan . . .” Barańczak, Stanisław and Clare Cavanagh (trans.)
  • “Who will bear witness to these times?” Pirie, Donald (trans.)

Majzel, Bartlomiej. (b. 1974) “Scrumping”

Maliński, Ks. Mieczysław. (b. 1923) Passage from Maybe It Happened This Way…

Malzahn, Miłka. (b. 1971) Passage from Queen of the Rhubarb

 

Masłowska, Dorota. (b. 1983)

Matkowski, Tomasz. (b. 1952) Passage from Mousy on Holiday

Maurer, Jadwiga. (b. 1932) Passage from Doppelgangers

Melecki, Maciej. (b. 1969)

Mentzel, Zbigniew. (b. 1951)

Międzyrzecki, Artur. (1922-1996) Various Poems.

  • Barańczak, Stanisław and Clare Cavanagh (trans.). Modern Polish Poetry.
  • “22-77-02”
  • “At the Cave”
  • “Can You Imagine”
  • “Fate the clerk lays down a new set of bylaws…”
  • “The Golden Age”
  • “Let It Talk”
  • “Obituary”
  • “The Reason of Existence”
  • “Someone Else”
  • “Simultaneism”
  • “They”
  • “The War of Nerves”
  • “What Does the Political Scientist Know?”

Miłobędzka, Krystyna. (b. 1932) Various Poems.

  • Valles, Alissa (trans.). Words Without Borders. Follow the links on the right.
  • Passage from “After the Cry”
  • “exactly the forehead, exactly the mouth, exactly the hands…”
  • “I lose verbs most quickly, nouns are left…”
  • “I put off three dreams about father until later…”
  • “I peel potatoes, stroke you on the head, pick up a leaf…”

 

Miłosz, Czesław. (1911 – 2004)

  • “If there is no God…” and “The Other World.” Reisner, Ryszard J. Ars Interpres No. 4 & 5.
  • “Autumn” and “Unde Malum and Autumn.” The Guardian. Nov. 10, 2001.
  • “Christopher Robin” and “Roadside Dog.” Hass, Robert (trans.). Washington Post Dec. 6, 1998.
  • Passage from “The Second Space.” Miłosz, Czesław, Robert Hass, and Renata Gorczyńska (trans.). Instytut Książki.
  • “Where the Sun Rises and Where It Sets.” Miłosz, Czesław and Lillian Vallee (trans.). Instytut Książki.
  • Various Poems. Miłosz, Czesław and Robert Hass (trans.). The Legacy Project.
  • “1945.”
  • “Dedication.”
  • “On Prayer.”
  • Various Poems. Nobelprize.org. Follow the links in the middle.  Also in Polish.
  • “Encounter.” Miłosz, Czesław and Lillian Vallee (trans.)
  • “Esse.” Miłosz, Czesław and Robert Pinsky (trans.)
  • “A Poor Christian Looks at the Ghetto.” Miłosz, Czesław (trans.)
  • “So Little.” Miłosz, Czesław and Lillian Vallee (trans.)
  • Various Poems. Plagiarist Poetry Archive. Follow the links.
  • “Account.” Hass, Robert and Robert Pinsky (trans.)
  • “Forget.” (unknown trans.)
  • “In Black Despair.” (unknown trans.)
  • “Lake.” (unknown trans.)
  • “Late Ripeness.” (unknown trans.)
  • “Not Mine.” Hass, Robert (trans.)
  • “On Angels.” (unknown trans.)
  • “A Task.” (unknown trans.)
  • Various Poems. Modern Polish Poetry. Follow the links on the left.
  • “1945.” Miłosz, Czesław and Robert Hass (trans.)
  • “And Yet the Books.” Miłosz, Czesław and Robert Hass (trans.)
  • “Bypassing Rue Descartes.” (unknown trans.)
  • “Caffe Greco.” Miłosz, Czesław and Robert Hass (trans.)
  • “Calling to Order.” Miłosz, Czesław and Lillian Vallee (trans.)
  • “A Confession.” Miłosz, Czesław and Robert Hass (trans.)
  • “Distance.” Miłosz, Czesław and Robert Hass (trans.)
  • “How It Should Be in Heaven.” Miłosz, Czesław and Robert Hass (trans.)
  • “Idea.” Miłosz, Czesław and Robert Hass (trans.)
  • “My Grandfather Sigismund Kunat.” Miłosz, Czesław and Robert Hass (trans.)
  • “Poet at Seventy.” Miłosz, Czesław (trans.)
  • “Rivers.” Gorczynski, Renata and Robert Hass (trans.)
  • “Texas.” (unknown trans.)
  • “Theodicy.” Miłosz, Czesław and Robert Hass (trans.)
  • Various Works. InfoPoland. State University of New York State University at Buffalo. Follow the links.
  • “Campo dei Fiori.” Irribarne, Louis and David BrooksInfo (trans.). InfoPoland. State University of New York State University at Buffalo. Follow the links.
  • “Gift.” Also in Polish. The United States of Poetry, World of Poetry.
  • Passage from The Nobel Lecture, 1980. New York Review of Books 28.3.
  • Nobel Lecture. Nobelprize.org.

 

Mrożek, Sławomir. (b. 1930) Passage from “How I Became a Reviewer”

Musiał, Grzegorz. (b. 1952)

  • Various Poems. Pirie, Donald (trans.). Modern Polish Poetry.
  • “Accidental Witnesses to Events”
  • “Emigrants”
  • “The End of the World at Breakfast Time”
  • “Generation”
  • “I am so sick…”
  • “An Introductory Conversation between Writers from Eastern Europe”
  • “Isadora Duncan Dancing in a Red Scarf, 1918”
  • “A Lady in Waiting Gives Evidence”
  • “Lonely Men”
  • “Poem for Allen”
  • “This Place”
  • “Vence.” Purpura, Lia (trans.). Frigate.

 

Nahacz, Mirosław. (b. 1984) Passage from Eighty Four

Niemiec, Maciej. (b. 1953) “Parisian White.” Brand, William (trans.). Instytut Książki.

Niewiadomski, Andrzej. (b. 1965) “Retineo”

 

Odija, Daniel. (b. 1974)

  • Passage from The Glassworks. Lloyd-Jones, Antonia (trans.). Instytut Książki.
  • Passage from The Sawmill. Lloyd-Jones, Antonia (trans.). Instytut Książki.

Odojewski, Włodzimierz. (b. 1930) “Breathless”

Olczak-Ronikier, Joanna. (b. 1934) Passage from In Memory’s Garden

Olszewski, Michał. (b. 1977) Passage from Towards Amsterdam

Orłoś, Kazimierz (AKA Jordan, Maciej). (b. 1935) Passages from “Some Remarks on Writing”

 

Pacak, Dariusz. (b. 1961)

  • Various Poems. Reisner, Ryszard J. (trans). Ars Interpres No. 4 & 5.
  • “Boriam Temple”
  • “Contemporary Desolation”
  • “The Hour”
  • “In Search of Godot”
  • “Muslin Print”
  • “Pati Natae…”
  • “The Season”
  • “A Tale of a Pot of Tea”
  • “To Mother”
  • “Way to Cheongyang Temple”
  • “A Wisp out of Childhood”

Pankowski, Marian. (b. 1919) Passage from Love’s Way

 

Pasewicz, Edward. (b. 1971)

Piątek, Tomasz. (b. 1974) Passage from Nionio

 

Pilch, Jerzy. (b. 1952)

Pióro, Tadeusz. (b. 1960)

Piwkowska, Anna. (b. 1963) “Lament of that Summer”

Podgórnik, Marta. (b. 1977) “Final Destination”

Podsiadło, Jacek. (b. 1964) Various Poems

  • Modern Polish Poetry.
  • “Day like a monkey shinnying up the trunk for its daily fruit…” Wójcik-Leese, Elżbieta and W. Martin (trans.)
  • “Don’t Leave Me.” Pirie, Donald (trans.)
  • “Even the Mirrors Will Be on Our Side.” Pirie, Donald (trans.)
  • “For a Woman Painter.” Pirie, Donald (trans.)
  • “Grass Accepts.” Pirie, Donald (trans.)
  • “Instead of Complaining, Here’s a Better Offer No Cowboy’s Girl Can Refuse.” Pirie, Donald (trans.)
  • “Intellect.” Wójcik-Leese, Elżbieta and W. Martin (trans.)
  • “Overweight.” Pirie, Donald (trans.)
  • “Song of My Own Warsaw.” Pirie, Donald (trans.)
  • “Song of Our Lady of the Water Closet.” Pirie, Donald (trans.)
  • “To see a teacher…” Pirie, Donald (trans.)
  • “Two Casual Laborers, Having Put Down their Forks, Stretch Out on the Hay, Turn their Unshaven Faces to the Sun, and Are Talking Away Lazily.” Pirie, Donald (trans.)
  • “Vanitas; Et Omnia Vanitatis.” Wójcik-Leese, Elżbieta and W. Martin (trans.)

 

Polkowski, Jan. (b. 1953)

  • Barańczak, Stanisław and Clare Cavanagh (trans.). Modern Polish Poetry.
  • “Among Us, the Unclean Ones”
  • “Hymn”
  • “My Sweet Motherland”
  • “Peter Followed Him from Afar”
  • “The Restaurant ‘Arcadia,’ Central Square, Nowa Huta”
  • “Though Mortal, I Desired You”
  • “You need me? You, the Great…”
  • “The World Is Only Air.” March, Michael and Jarosław Anders (trans.). The Legacy Project.

Praszyński, Roman (AKA Red Vonnegut). (b. 1965) Passage from Lot’s Daughters

Prokop, Jan. (b. 1931) Various Poems.

  • Modern Polish Poetry.
  • “From time to time the bird of inspiration alights on my brow . . .” Rybicki, Jan (trans.)
  • “Song of a Crust of Bread Thrown to Sparrows on Victory Square, Formerly Saxonian Square, by the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.” Barańczak, Stanisław and Clare Cavanagh (trans.)
  • “Song of Four-Egg Enriched Ribbon Noodles.” Barańczak, Stanisław and Clare Cavanagh (trans.)
  • “Trying in vain to save the drowning painted butterfly . . .” Rybicki, Jan (trans.)

Reisner , Ryszard. (b. 1954) “On the Hill”

 

Rosiak, Mariusz. (b. 1958)

Różewicz, Tadeusz. (b. 1921)

  • Various Poems. Reisner, Ryszard J. (trans.). Ars Interpres No. 4 & 5.
  • “Dostojevsky said…”
  • “In Life’s Centre”
  • “There Is This Monument”
  • “Wood”
  • Various Poems. Czerniawski, Adam (trans.). The Legacy Project.
  • “In the Midst of Life.”
  • “Massacre of the Boys.”
  • “Pigtail.”
  • “The Survivor.”
  • Various Works. Words Without Borders. Follow the links on the right.
  • Passage from The Professor’s Knife. Trzeciak, Joanna (trans.)
  • “Gray Zone” Johnston, Bill (trans.)
  • “Ghost Ship” Johnston, Bill (trans.)
  • “and once again” Johnston, Bill (trans.)
  • “cobweb” Johnston, Bill (trans.)
  • Various Poems. Modern Polish Poetry.
  • “Deposition of the Burden.” Miłosz, Czesław (trans.)
  • “In the Middle of Life.” Miłosz, Czesław (trans.)
  • “Laughter.” Barańczak, Stanisław and Clare Cavanagh (trans.)
  • “Nothing in Prospero’s Cloak.” Miłosz, Czesław (trans.)
  • “The poet grows weaker . . .” Barańczak, Stanisław and Clare Cavanagh (trans.)
  • “Pouring.” Barańczak, Stanisław and Clare Cavanagh (trans.)
  • Various Poems. Brindin Press. Also in Polish.
  • “Chestnut.” Czerniawski, Adam (trans.).
  • Passage from “Gold.” Howard, Tony and Barbara Plebanek (trans.).
  • Passage from “The Hyperactive Family.” Howard, Tony and Barbara Plebanek (trans.).
  • “Poem of Pathos.” Czerniawski, Adam (trans.).
  • “Suddenly.” Czerniawski, Adam (trans.).
  • “there is this monument…” Reisner, Ryszard J. (trans.).
  • Passage from “Unde Malum?” Howard, Tony and Barbara Plebanek (trans.).
  • “The Living Were Dying.” Grol, Regina (trans.). InfoPoland. New York State University at Buffalo. Also in Polish.
  • “Pigtail.” InfoPoland. New York State University at Buffalo.

Różycki, Tomasz. (b. 1970) “A Crossing,” “Firewater,” and “Totems and Beads.” Rosenthal, Mira (trans.). AGNI. Follow the links.

Rudnicki, Janusz. (b. 1956) Passage from My Wehrmacht

Rylski, Eustachy. (b. 1945) Passage from The Man in the Shadow

 

Sapkowski, Andrzej. (b. 1948)

Sendecki, Marcin. (b. 1967)

Shuty, Sławomir. (b. 1973) Passage from “Sugar Level Normal with Extra Bonus”

Sieniewicz, Mariusz. (b. 1972) Passage from We Don’t Serve Jewish Women

Siwczyk, Krzysztof. (b. 1977) “Metaphors and Comparisons”

Skrzyposzek, Christian. (1943-1999) Passage from Moira

 

Sommer, Piotr. (b. 1948)

Sosnowski, Andrzej. (b. 1959)

  • “Closer” and “On the Hoof.” Mengham, Ros (trans.). Words Without Borders 2005. Follow the links on the right.
  • “A Song for Europe” and “Trope for Trope.” Mengham, Rod (trans.). Jacket 16.
  • “For Children” and “A Song for Europe.” Mengham, Rod (trans.). Jacket 29.
  • “Closer,” “Founding a Colony” and “On the Hoof.” Mengham, Rod (trans.). Jacket 29.
  • “Song for Europe.” Powaga, Wiesiek (trans.). The Guardian. Feb. 16, 2002.

Sosnowski, Jerzy. (b. 1962)

  • Passage from “Ah!” Lloyd-Jones, Antonia (trans.). Instytut Książki.
  • Passage from “Rip Current” Kotkowska, Ela (trans.). Instytut Książki.

Sośnicki, Dariusz. (b. 1969) “How to Walk Downstairs,” “Leaves,” and “Washroom.”

 

Stasiuk, Andrzej. (b. 1960)

Stefko, Jolanta. (b. 1971) “I Don’t Like Anybody but Myself”

Suska, Dariusz. (b. 1968) “All the Hovels in the World, and So This Room as Well”

Szczepkowska, Joanna. (b. 1953) Passage from Extracts from the Life of a Mirror

 

Szewc, Piotr. (b. 1961)

Szlosarek, Artur. (b. 1968) “Temptation”

  • Skucińska, Anna (trans.). AGNI.

Szuber, Janusz. (b. 1948) “Tiresias’s Farewell” and “Tiresias’s Lesson”

 

Szymborska, Wisława. (b. 1923)

  • “Rubens’ Women,” “Walk of the Arisen,” and Passage from “Water.” Krynski, Magnus Jan, Robert A. Maguire, Marek Ługowski, and Joanna Trzeciak (trans.) Small Garlic Press.
  • Various Poems. Barańczak, Stanisław and Clare Cavanagh (trans.). Nobelprize.org. Also in Polish and Swedish. Follow the links.
  • “Utopia”
  • “On Death, without Exaggeration”
  • “The Three Oddest Words”
  • “Possibilities”
  • “The Joy of Writing”
  • Various Poems. Barańczak, Stanisław and Clare Cavanagh (trans.). Cross Currents Vol. 7.
  • “On Death, Without Exaggeration”
  • “An Opinion on the Question of Pornography”
  • “The People on the Bridge”
  • “Surplus”
  • “Writing a Resume”
  • Various Poems. The Wondering Minstrels, Blogspot.
  • “A Contribution to Statistics.” (unknown trans.)
  • “In Praise of My Sister.” Barańczak, Stanisław and Clare Cavanagh (trans.).
  • “True Love.” Barańczak, Stanisław and Clare Cavanagh (trans.).
  • “Under One Small Star.” Barańczak, Stanisław and Clare Cavanagh (trans.).
  • Various Poems. Brindin Press. Also in Polish. Follow the link at the bottom for second translation.
  • “An Elegiac Account.” Czerniawski, Adam (trans.).
  • “People on a Bridge.” Czerniawski, Adam (trans.).
  • “People on a Bridge.” Trzeciak, Joanna (trans.).
  • “Perfect.” Czerniawski, Adam (trans.).
  • “Pi.” Czerniawski, Adam (trans.).
  • “Pi.” Trzeciak, Joanna (trans.).
  • “People on a Bridge.” Trzeciak, Joanna (trans.).
  • “Theatrical Impressions.” Czerniawski, Adam (trans.).
  • “Unwritten Poem Reviewed.” Czerniawski, Adam (trans.).
  • Various Poems. Plagiarist Poetry Archive. Follow the links.
  • “A Large Number.” Trzeciak, Joanna (trans.)
  • “Going Home.” Barańczak, Stanisław and Clare Cavanagh (trans.)
  • “Hunger Camp at Jasło.” Drabik, Grazyna and Austin Flint (trans.)
  • “Pi.” Trzeciak, Joanna (trans.)
  • “Some Like Poetry.” Grol, Regina (trans.)
  • “Still.” (unknown trans.)
  • “Tortures.” (unknown trans.)
  • Various Poems. Trzeciak, Joanna Maria (trans.). Poetry @ Polish American Network.
  • “Cat in an Empty Apartment”
  • “The End and the Beginning”
  • “Funeral”
  • “Hatred”
  • “People on the Bridge”
  • “Reality Demands”
  • “Some Like Poetry”
  • “A ‘Thank You’ Note”
  • “The Turn of the Century”
  • Various Poems. Poet Seers. Follow the links.
  • A Few Words on the Soul.” Barańczak, Stanisław and Clare Cavanagh (trans.)
  • “Hunger Camp at Jaslo.” (unknown trans.)
  • “The Joy of Writing.” (unknown trans.)
  • “On Death, Without Exaggeration.” (unknown trans.)
  • “Possibilities.” (unknown trans.)
  • “Some Like Poetry.” (unknown trans.)
  • “Three Oddest Words.” (unknown trans.)
  • “Under One Small Star.” (unknown trans.)
  • “Utopia.” (unknown trans.)
  • Various Poems. Whipple, Walter (trans.). LDS Mission Network. Follow the links at the bottom.
  • “A Cat in an Empty Apartment”
  • “Children of an Epoch”
  • “Circus Animals”
  • “Consciousness”
  • “The End and the Beginning”
  • “From Korea”
  • “Hatred”
  • “It’s Most Fortunate”
  • “The Laboratory”
  • “Love at First Sight”
  • “May 16, 1973”
  • “Nothing’s a Gift”
  • “The Séance”
  • “The Silent Movies”
  • “The Sky”
  • “Some People Like Poetry”
  • Various Poems. Barańczak, Stanisław, Clare Cavanagh, Magnus J. Krynski, and Robert A. Maguire (trans.). Modern Polish Poetry. Follow the links on the left.
  • “Cassandra.” InfoPoland. New York State University at Buffalo.
  • “Could Have.” Barańczak, Stanisław, and Clare Cavanagh (trans.). Daniel Traister’s Home Page. University of Pennsylvania.
  • “The End and the Beginning.” Trzeciak, Joanna (trans.). Poetry 180. United States Library of Congress.
  • “A Few Words on the Soul.” Barańczak, Stanisław, and Clare Cavanagh (trans.).  AGNI 56.
  • “First Love.” Trzeciak, Joanna (trans.). The Blue Moon Review.
  • “No Title Required.” Barańczak, Stanisław, and Clare Cavanagh (trans.). The Manhattan Review 7.1.
  • Nobel Lecture. Barańczak, Stanisław, and Clare Cavanagh (trans.). Gifts of Speech. Sweet Briar College.
  • Nobel Lecture. Barańczak, Stanisław, and Clare Cavanagh (trans.). Nobelprize.org
  • “Portrait of a Woman.” Faylicity.com. http://faylicity.com/verse/szym/portrait.html
  • “Psalm.” Barańczak, Stanisław, and Clare Cavanagh (trans.). A. Word. A. Day. Wordsmith. One quarter of the way down the page.
  • “Some Like Poetry.” Grol, Regina (trans.). InfoPoland. New York State University at Buffalo.
  • “Stage Fright.” Barańczak, Stanisław, and Clare Cavanagh (trans.). The Manhattan Review 4.2.

Śliwka, Krzysztof. (b. 1967) “Sestina.”

 

Świetlicki, Marcin. (b. 1961)

  • “Battlefield,” “Mcdonald’s,” and “So Long Ago, So Distinctly.” Pióro, Tadeusz (trans.). Jacket 29
  • “April 1, Wągrowiec, Poland”
  • “M — Black Monday”
  • “Photograph”
  • “Six Times Coltrane”
  • “Tuesday, March”
  • Various Poems. Modern Polish Poetry.
  • “An Apocryphal Tale.” Pirie, Donald (trans.)
  • “Battlefield.” Pirie, Donald (trans.)
  • “For Jan Polkowski.” Martin, W. (trans.)
  • “¿Le gusta esta jardin?” Pirie, Donald (trans.)
  • “M-Black Monday.” Wójcik-Leese, Elżbieta (trans.).
  • “Not for Jan Polkowski.” Martin, W. (trans.)
  • “Opposites.” Pirie, Donald (trans.)
  • “People.” Martin, W. (trans.)
  • “Rags.” Pirie, Donald (trans.)
  • “Six Times Coltrane.” Martin, W. (trans.)
  • “The Town of Slupsk, 1984.” Pirie, Donald (trans.)
  • “The Truth about Trees.” Pirie, Donald (trans.)
  • Various Poems from Schizma. Hooper, Kirsty (trans.). Central Europe Review 1.21.
  • “Beginning”
  • “Early Autumn”
  • “The Eve of the Schism”
  • “Little Problems with the Memory”
  • “Little Son”
  • “M – Black Monday”
  • “Noon”
  • “Pedagogy”
  • “Rome”
  • “Saturday, Impulse”
  • “Song from the Cellar”
  • “Sweetheart”
  • “Under the Volcano”
  • “Universities”
  • “Waking up with my hand clasped peacefully…”
  • “The World”
  • “Koehlerism.” Martin, W (trans.). Modern Polish Poetry
  • “McDonald’s.” Constantine, Peter (trans.). Words Without Borders 2005.

Tarkocińska, Zofia. (b. 1925)  Passage from The Finely Hewn

Terakowska, Dorota. (1938-2004)

Tkaczyszyn-Dycki, Eugeniusz. (b. 1962)

  • Various Poems. Pióro, Tadeusz (trans.). Jacket 29.
  • XII “Moon Rises over the Vistula”
  • XXV “Dernier Cri”
  • LII “we drink alcohol at the Jewish cemetery…”
  • LXXX “Heat”
  • LXXXIII “Shyness”
  • XC “we’d just wept our eyes out for you…”
  • Passage from “Towards a Science of Non-Existence” Johnston, Bill (trans.). Words Without Borders 2005.

Tokarczuk, Olga. (b. 1962)

  • Passage from Final Stories. Lloyd-Jones, Antonia (trans.). Words Without Borders 2005.
  • “The Knight.” Croft, Jennifer (trans.). Words Without Borders 2008.
  • “Żurek.” Swan, Oscar E. (trans.). Through Polish Eyes, University of Pittsburgh.

Tulli, Magdalena. (b. 1955)

  • Passage from Flaw. Johnston, Bill (trans.). Instytut Książki.
  • Passage from In Red. Reisner, Ryszard (trans.). Instytut Książki.
  • Passage from Modes. Lloyd-Jones, Antonia (trans.). Instytut Książki.
  • Passage from Dreams and Stones. Johnston, Bill (trans.). Words Without Borders 2005.

Tuszyńska, Agata. (b. 1962) Passage from “A Family History of Fear”

 

Twardowski, Ks. Jan. (1915-2006)

Varga, Krzysztof. (b. 1968) “The Ambient Music of the Cosmos.”

Waniek, Henryk. (b. 1942)

  • Passage from Finis Silesiae. Lloyd-Jones, Antonia (trans.). Instytut Książki.

Wiedemann, Adam. (b. 1967)

  • “Calypso” and Passage from Konwalia. Martin, W. (trans.). Words Without Borders 2005.
  • “A Thousand.” Smigasiewicz, Beatrice (trans.). Words Without Borders 2010.
  • “Aesthetics of the Word.” Pióro, Tadeusz (trans.). pp. 17-18.
  • “and suddenly a single moment takes away a good…” Martin, Bill (trans.). p. 11.
  • “Apple.” Merecz, Paweł (trans.). p. 5.
  • “Bandaid (2).” Ferguson, Jamie Harmon (trans.). p. 13.
  • “Black Man on a Business Trip.” Jelnikar, Ana, Primoz Cucnik and Michael Farrell (trans.). p. 14.
  • “Break in Traffic.” Merecz, Paweł (trans.). p. 10.
  • “Calypso.” Jelnikar, Ana (trans.). p. 15.
  • “don’t laugh at me. where the world ends…” Merecz, Paweł (trans.). p. 2.
  • “Good Manners.” Merecz, Paweł (trans.). p. 8.
  • “how come I find myself…” Carson, Ciaran (trans.). p. 1.
  • “PECCANCY despite strawberries…” Merecz, Paweł (trans.). p. 9.
  • “Poem of Intervention.” Merecz, Paweł (trans.). p. 7.
  • “Rafał was right: phones in Podgórze are good for nothing…” Merecz, Paweł (trans.). p. 4.
  • “Small Dose.” Pióro, Tadeusz (trans.). p. 16.
  • “Spring’s Feces.” Martin, Bill (trans.). p. 12.
  • “There is a paper on the bench No doubt it’s wet…” Merecz, Paweł (trans.). p. 3.
  • “Tongue.” Wiedemann, Adam and Paweł Merecz (trans.). p. 6.
  • “Aesthetics of the Word.” Pióro, Tadeusz (trans.). Jacket 29.

Wildstein, Bronisław. (b. 1952) Passage from The Master

Wilk, Mariusz. (b. 1955) Passage from Voloka

Wirpsza, Witold. (1918 – 1985) “The Dance of the Asphyxiated,” “Footnote,” and “Mendacity.”

 

Witkowski, Michał. (b. 1975)

Wojtyła, Karol Józef (AKA Pope John Paul II). (1920-2005)

  • Various Poems. Peterkiewicz, Jerzy (trans.). Modern Polish Poetry.
  • “Actor”
  • “A Bishop’s Thoughts on Giving the Sacrament of Confirmation in a Mountain Village”
  • “Girl Disappointed in Love”
  • “Her Amazement at Her Only Child”
  • “Shores of Silence”
  • Various Poems. Frontline. PBS.
  • “I. Material.” Peterkiewicz, Jerzy (trans.)
  • “Actor.” Peterkiewicz, Jerzy (trans.)
  • “Girl Disappointed in Love.” Peterkiewicz, Jerzy (trans.)
  • “John Beseeches Her.” Peterkiewicz, Jerzy (trans.)
  • “Over This, Your White Grave.” (unknown trans.)
  • “The Quarry.” (unknown trans.)
  • “Her Amazement at Her Only Child.” Peterkiewicz, Jerzy (trans.). CIN.
  • “Over This, Your White Grave.” Witch Hazel’s Magic Resource Website.

Wojtyszko, Maciej. (b. 1966)

Wolny-Hamkało, Agnieszka. (b. 1979) “Event”

Woroszylski, Wiktor. (1927 – 1996) Various Poems.

  • Barańczak, Stanisław and Clare Cavanagh (trans.). Modern Polish Poetry.
  • “The Belly of Barbara N”
  • “Fascist Nations”
  • “The Padlock Speaks”
  • “Roommates”
  • “What a Poem Is Allowed”

 

Wróblewski, Grzegorz. (b. 1962)

  • “Black Head” and “A Summation Scheme (About the Illness of John T.).” Zdrodowski, Adam (trans.). Jacket 31.
  • “Jesse Owens and Luz Long” and “Migraine.” Zdrodowski, Adam (trans.). Jacket 34.
  • “Important Message” and “On Visiting Mother.” Wróblewski, Grzegorz and Joel Leonard Katz (trans.). Eclectica Jul/Aug. 2008.
  • “In the Queen’s Honor” and “one night, looking…” Pokojska, Agnieszka (trans.). Eclectica Jan/Feb. 2009.
  • “Argument from Enghave Station,”  “I Put Off the Knife from my Hand till Tomorrow,” and “Tangerines.” Pióro, Tadeusz (trans.). Jacket 29.
  • Various Poems. Zdrodowski, Adam (trans.). McDuff, David (ed.). The Other Side. A Step at a Time January 14, 2005. Also in Polish.
  • “An Arab Fruit Seller and Old Eulogists of Death”
  • “A Beggar”
  • “The Northern Route”
  • “One of the Ladies”
  • “The Other Side”
  • “When We Suddenly Feel the Beauty of the Earth”
  • “Where are you coming from, old traveller attired…”
  • Various Poems. Wróblewski, Grzegorz and Malcolm Sinclair (trans.). Eclectica Oct/Nov. 2007.
  • “A Couple” and “Faroe Islands.”
  • “A young beautiful woman at a bus stop…” and  “What did Clausen see the sky?…”
  • “Climacteric.”
  • “Gretha! What’s Become of our December Snow?”
  • “Mr. Cullen’s Sally.”
  • Various Poems. Jacket 29.
  • “High Tide.” Zdrodowski, Adam (trans.)
  • “Kites on Primrose Hill.” Zdrodowski, Adam and Joel Leonard Katz (trans.)
  • “Mister Vester.” Zdrodowski, Adam (trans.)
  • “On the Milky Way.” Zdrodowski, Adam (trans.)
  • “The Porter and the Lavender.” Zdrodowski, Adam and Joel Leonard Katz (trans.)
  • “Red Polka-dot Dress.” Zdrodowski, Adam and Joel Leonard Katz (trans.)
  • “The Time of Awakened Poets.” Zdrodowski, Adam and Joel Leonard Katz (trans.)
  • “The Wind’s Triumph. Jeckels Hotel, Skagen.” Zdrodowski, Adam (trans.)
  • Various Poems. Zdrodowski, Adam (trans.). McDuff, David (ed.). The Time of Woken Up Poets. A Step at a Time. January 14, 2005. Also in Polish.
  • “High Tide”
  • “The House”
  • “Kites on Primrose Hill”
  • “Mr. Vester”
  • “On the Milky Way”
  • “Orientations between Friends”
  • “Passenger”
  • “The Porter and Lavender”
  • “Red Polka-dot Dress”
  • “Repetition”
  • “Song about Gunnar”
  • “The Time of Woken Up Poets”
  • “The Wind’s Triumph. Jeckels Hotel, Skagen”
  • “A Business Trip.” Wróblewski, Grzegorz and Malcolm Sinclair. Eclectica Jan/Feb. 2006.
  • “Metamorphosis.” Tanovic, Ulvija (trans.). Diwan.

Zagajewski, Adam. (b. 1945)

  • “December” Cavanagh, Clare (trans) and “Vaporetto” (unknown trans.) Samizdat #1.
  • Various Poems. Cavanagh Clare (trans.) Poets.org. Academy of American Poets.
  • “Balance.”
  • “My Aunts.”
  • “Self-Portrait.”
  • Various Poems. Cavanagh, Clare (trans.). Poetry International Web. Also in Polish. Follow the links on the right.
  • “Gate”
  • “Improvisation”
  • “In a Little Apartment”
  • “Luxembourg Garden”
  • “New Hotel”
  • “Poetry Searches for Radiance.”
  • “Ravenna.”
  • “Subject: Brodskey.”
  • “Vita Contemplativa.”
  • Various Poems. Modern Polish Poetry. Follow the links on the left.
  • “Brevier.” Carpenter, John (trans.)
  • “Escalator.” Cavanagh, Clare (trans.)
  • “Fire.” Gorczynski, Renata (trans.)
  • “Flag.” Carpenter, John (trans.)
  • “He Acts.” Gorczynski, Renata (trans.)
  • “Iron.” Gorczynski, Renata (trans.)
  • “Lightning.” Gorczynski, Renata (trans.)
  • “My Masters.” Gorczynski, Renata (trans.).
  • “Plans, Reports.” Barańczak, Stanisław and Clare Cavanagh (trans.)
  • “A Polish Dictionary.” Gorczynski, Renata (trans.)
  • “Thorns.” Carpenter, John (trans.)
  • “To Go to Lwów.” Gorczynski, Renata (trans.)
  • “The Trial.” Gorczynski, Renata (trans.)
  • “Where Breath Is.” Cavanagh, Clare (trans.)
  • “You Know.” Cavanagh, Clare (trans.)
  • “Just Children.” Poems of War: Six Writers and Editors on Poems of War. Slate Apr. 25, 2003.
  • “Music Heard with You.” Cavanagh, Clare (trans.). Words Without Borders 2004.
  • “The Poppies’ Fragile Glory.” Cavanagh, Clare (trans.).  AGNI 53.
  • “Smoke.” Cavanagh, Clare (trans.).  AGNI 53.
  • “The Soul.” Cavanagh, Clare (trans.).  AGNI 56.
  • “Sunrise Over Cassis.” Cavanagh, Clare (trans.).  Slate July 2, 2002.
  • “Vermeer’s Little Girl.” Rich Geib’s Universe.
  • “Watching Shoah in a Hotel Room in America.” Gorczynski, Renata Benjamin Ivry, and C.K. Williams (trans.). The Manhattan Review 6.1.

Zdrodowski, Adam. (b. 1979) Various Poems.

  • Zdrodowski, Adam (trans.). Jacket 29.
  • “Like a Tourist in a Milk Bar”
  • “Poem Written during Office Hours”
  • “Sestine Mon Amour”
  • “Telling Fortunes”

Żywulska, Krystyna (AKA Landau, Sonia). (1918-1992)

English Translations of Polish Literary Works

The following is a list of notable figures in Polish literature whose works have been translated into English online.  These are by no means all the noteworthy authors who have contributed to the canon of Polish literature, nor are these the only writers whose works can be found in English, but a great many translations that have been posted for free on the Internet are compiled here.  The list begins with the Middle Ages and finishes with writers from the post-World War II generation, including contemporary authors.  You will notice from the breadth of each category that the diversity and sheer number of Polish literary works explodes in the 20th century.  For that reason, the categories become smaller starting in the late 1800s.  Otherwise, the list is roughly organized by century.

The chronological (and then alphabetical) order of these authors is for the sake of convenience, although Polish literature is often divided into periods: medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Enlightenment, Romantic, Positivist, and modern.  The modern era saw a number of upheavals in Poland and the rest of Europe, so it is further divided into its own periods and movements by scholars.  The sheer number of distinguished 20th and 21st century authors, and the diversity of their work, makes this necessary.

Medieval and Renaissance literature in Poland is marked by the country’s struggle for a distinct identity in Europe where Latin was the default language of writing.  During the Baroque period, Latin continued to exert its influence due to many Polish authors’ Jesuit education.  However, the Enlightenment and Romantic periods see the inclusion of more scientific, political, and revolutionary ideologies, the latter of which was especially prominent during the Russian occupation.  Finally, Polish Positivism is marked by a gradual easing of the revolutionary temperament and a greater emphasis on distinguishing Poland by its contributions to European scholarship and art, although resentment of foreign rule continued to figure prominently until Poland gained independence in 1918.  Joseph Conrad, who was Polish-born, belongs in this last category.  Because he wrote in English, a copious amount of his work can be found here, despite his perhaps more profound role in the British, rather than Polish, canon.

Although 20th century Poland saw its share of turmoils, none is so influential in modern Polish literature than the Holocaust.  Because so many Poles were displaced during World War II, Polish-American and other immigrant voices constitute a great deal of this literature since the 1940s.  Within Poland itself, socialist realism, a movement that often glorified Russian communism, immediately followed the war.  These days, the focus of Polish writers and poets is extremely diverse, although science fiction authors, such as Stanisław Lem, have captured the imagination of many.

Rather than situate these authors in movements, however, this list lets Polish poets and writers speak for themselves.  In nearly every case, the author’s works are listed under each link, except in the rare instances when twenty or more can all be found in the same website.  Finally, a short list of links to websites devoted to Polish culture and literature in general can be found at the very bottom.

Links to Websites About Polish Culture and Literature

  • About-Poland.com – literature section provides a quick summary of Polish literature with images of some of the most prominent writers.
  • InfoPoland – is sponsored by New York State University at Buffalo and includes links for anyone interested in Polish Studies programs and Polish scholarship, and hosts many English translations of Polish works.
  • The Piast Institute - is a source and think tank for scholars and other people interested in Polish and Polish-American concerns, and includes a virtual library of historical and cultural facts.
  • The Polish American Historical Association – has a huge number of links to resources about Polish American Studies, including literature.
  • Polish News - besides serving as a voice for Polish American news, has a number of sections about Polish culture and history.  The site is in both English and Polish.
  • Polishsite – is a comprehensive resource about Polish culture and hosts an additional Polish culture resource by Jagoda Urban-Klaehn.
  • Staropolska - focuses on works of Polish literature from the Baroque period and earlier and includes numerous English translations often cited in this link list.
  • The Virtual Library of Polish Literature – part of the University of Gdańsk, is a resource for anyone seeking Polish literature in the original language.
  • Pre-1500s

Anonymous - Passages from “About the Life and Miracles of St. Kinga” (c. 1400s)

 

Anonymous -“Bogurdzixa” or “Mother of God” (c. 1200s – 1400s)

Anonymous - “Glad Tidings Came to Us…” (c. 1400s)

Anonymous - “Hail, O Star of the Sea…” (c. 1400s)

Anonymous - “Induction of Mary, Humble Purification…” (c. 1400s)

Anonymous – “Jesus Christ, God Man, Wisdom of His Father…” (c. 1400s)

Anonymous – Passages from “Kazania Świętokrzyskie” or “The Holy Cross Sermons” (c. 1200s – 1400s)

Anonymous – “Lament of a Dying Man” (c. 1400s)

 

Anonymous – “Laments of the Mother God”, AKA “Listen Dear Brothers…,” “The Holy Cross Lament” (c. 1400s)

Anonymous – “The Living God’s Liberality…” (c. 1400s)

Anonymous – “The Lord’s Mysteries Are Immense…” (c. 1400s)

Anonymous – Passages from “Meditation on the Life of Jesus” (c. 1400s)

Anonymous – “O Mary, Spotless Virgin…” (c. 1300s)

Anonymous – “O Mary, Virginal Flower…” (c. 1400s – 1500s)

Anonymous – “A Pure Little Flower…” (c. 1400s)

Celtis, Konrad. “On The Customs of the Sarmations” and “On the Fasting of the Sarmations” (1450-1508).

Ciołek, Stanisław. “Praise of the Cracow.” (1382-1437)

Długosz, Jan. Passages from The Annals. (1415-1480)

Gallus Anonim. Passages from The Polish Chronicle. (c. 1100s)

Gielniowa, Władysław z. (c. 1440-1505)

Ostroróg, Jan. Passages from Treatise on Improving the Republic. (1436-1501)

Słota, Przecław (AKA Złota, Przecław). “Poem on Table Manners” (c. 1300s-1400s)

 

1500s

Goślicki, Wawrzyniec (AKA Goslicius, Laurentius). (1537-1607). Passages from The Accomplished Senator.

Grabowiecki, Sebastian. (1540-1607) “Spiritual Rhymes No. VII”

Hussowski, Mikołaj (AKA Hussoviani, Nicolai). (c. 1475-1533) Passages from “A Poem on Bison.”

Janicjusz, Klemens (AKA Janicki). (1516-1543) “Elegy VII: About Myself to Posterity.”

Kochanowski, Jan. (1530-1584)

  • “Tren VII,” “Tren VIII,” and “Tren X.” Czerniawski, Adam (commentary). Toronto Slavic Quarterly.
  • Various Poems. Mikoś, Michael J. (trans.). Staropolska On-Line.
  • Passages from “The Muse”
  • “On Human Life” (“Everything we think is but a trifle…”)
  • “On Human Life” (“Eternal Thought, existing longer than Time’s span…”)
  • “On Trifles.”
  • Song (“What do You want from us, Lord, for Your lavish gifts…”)
  • Song I.2 (“The heart swells, when we look at this season…”)
  • Song I.9 (“We want to make merry . . .”)
  • Song I.24 (“I hear the clock striking . . .”)
  • Song II.7 (“The sun is burning . . .”)
  • Song II.8 (“Do not turn grey, Nicholas . . .”)
  • Song II.24 (“Endowed with a pinion that is mighty and rare . . .”).
  • Passages from “Saint John’s Eve Song About Saturday Festive Night”
  • “To the Mountains”
  • “A Treatise on Virtue and Friendship”
  • The Threnodies of Jan Kochanowski. Passages from Jan Kochanowski, Threnodies and the Dismissal of the Greek Envoys. Keane, Barry. EighthSquare.com.
  • “Threnody I”
  • “Threnody III”
  • “Threnody VI”
  • “Threnody XII”
  • “Threnody XIX” (AKA “A Dream”)
  • “Threnody XIV.” Kress, Leonard (trans.). Verse Daily.
  • “A Treatise on Virture and Friendship.” Spak, Cedric (trans.). Sarmatian Review, XIII.3, Rice University.
  • Treny – Laments. Czerniawski, Adam (trans.). Virtual Chapbook No. 7, Brindin Press. Also in Polish.

Kromer, Marcin. (1512-1589)

  • Passages from Polonia Book I (AKA About the Geography, Population, Customs, Offices, and Public Matters of the Polish Kingdom in Two Volumes). Mikoś, Michael J. (trans.).
  • “A True Story of the Sorrowful Adventure of His Highness…” Kurczaba, Alex (trans.).
  • Staropolska On-Line.

Modrzewski, Andrzej Frycz. (c. 1503-1572)

Rej, Mikołaj. (1505-1569) Passages from “Life of an Honest Man” and Various Poems.

  • Mikoś, Michael J. (trans.). Staropolska On-Line.
  • “A Short Conversation Between Three Persons…”
  • “Jan Kochanowski”
  • “Martin Luther, the Doctor”
  • “Mikołaj Rej of Nagłowice”
  • “Old Woman Who Cried During the Passion of Christ”

 

Sęp-Szarzyński, Mikołaj. (1550-1581)

  • Various Poems. Sokoloski, Richard (trans.). Staropolska On-Line.
  • “Song I, After David’s Psalm XIX”
  • “Song II, After David’s Psalm LII”
  • “Song III, Paraphrasis of Psalm LVI”
  • “Song IV, Paraphrasis of Psalm CXXVI”
  • “Song V, After Psalm LXX”
  • “Song VI, After Psalm CXX”
  • “Cupid’s Statue”
  • “Epitaph to Rome”
  • “Fortune’s Statue”
  • Song (“Harness no Lions nor Tigers, Cypris…”
  • “An Epigram on the Same, or a Short Inscription”
  • Song I: “On Divine Providence in the World”
  • Song II: “On Divine Order in the World”
  • Song III: “On God’s Omnipotence” (“All cometh of God. . .”)
  • Song IV: “On God’s Omnipotence” (“Nobles are born of the noble and virtuous…”)
  • Song V: “On Fridrusz, Slain by Tartars at the Battle of Sokal…”
  • Song VI: “On Strus, Slain at the River Rastawica by Tartars…”
  • Song VII: “To Stefan Bathory, King of Poland”
  • Song VIII: “That Reason’s More Needed by Man than Riches”
  • Song IX: “That Man’s Effort be Vain without God’s Help”
  • Sonnet I: “On the Brevity and Uncertainty of Man’s Earthly Being”
  • Sonnet II: “On Words of Job”
  • Sonnet III: “To the Virgin Most Holy”
  • Sonnet IV: “On the War We Wage with Satan, the World and the Flesh”
  • Sonnet V: “On the Unlasting Love for Worldly Things”
  • Sonnet VI: “To Mikołaj Tomicki”
  • “Sonnet IV.” Mikoś, Michael J. (trans.). Staropolska On-Line.
  • “Inscription for a Statue or an Image of Death.” Sokoloski, Richard (trans.). Staropolska On-Line.
  • “Sonnet III: To the Virgin Mary.” Sarmatian Review XIII.3, Rice University.
  • “Sonnet II” and “Sonnet IV.” Clancy, Steve (trans.). Sarmatian Review XXII.2, Rice University.

 

1600s

Lubomirski, Stanisław Herakliusz. (1642-1702) “A quiet moment comes after a storm…,” “Somnus,” and “Sonnet on the Great Suffering of Jesus Christ.”

Miaskowski, Kasper. (c. 1550-1622) “On Harvest,” “On a Painted Glass Goblet.”

 

 

Morsztyn, Hieronym. (c. 1581- 1623)

  • “A Man” and “Mors Ultima Linea Rerum.” Mikoś, Michael J. (trans.). Modern Polish Poetry.
  • “A Man,” “Mors Ultima Linea Rerum,” and “A Pleasant Counsel.” Mikoś, Michael J. (trans.). Staropolska On-Line.

Morsztyn, Jan Andrzej. (1621-1693)

  • Various Poems. Mikoś, Michael J. (trans.). Staropolska On-Line.
  • “Bee in Amber”
  • “A Clever Maiden”
  • “Inconstancy” (“Sooner one will bag the wind…”
  • “Inconstancy” (“Your eyes are fire…”)
  • “On His Young Lady”
  • “To a Butterfly: Sonnet”
  • “To a Corpse: Sonnet”
  • “To a Young Lady”
  • “The Wonders of Love: Sonnet”
  • Various Poems. Mikoś, Michael J. (trans.). Modern Polish Poetry.
  • “Bee in Amber”
  • “The Fair Sex”
  • “Inconstancy” (“Sooner one will bag the wind…”)
  • “Inconstancy” (“Your eyes are fire…”)
  • “On His Young Lady”
  • “Safe Treasure”
  • “To a Butterfly”
  • “To a Corpse”
  • “To the Same Lady”
  • “To a Young Lady”
  • “The Wonders of Love”

Naborowski, Daniel. (1573-1640) “The Brevity of Life,”  “To Ann,” and “Virtue is the Root of Everything.”

 

Potocki, Wacław. (1621-1696)

  • “What the Eyes Cannot See, the Heart Does Not Regret” and  “The World – a Prison.” Mikoś, Michael J. (trans.). Modern Polish Poetry.
  • “On His Own Poems.” Sarmatian Review XIII.3, Rice University.

Sarbiewski, Maciej Kazimierz. (AKA Casimire) (1595-1640)

  • “Longing for the Heavenly Homeland,”  “To My Lute,” and “To the Holy Virgin Mother.”  Mikoś, Michael J. (trans.). Modern Polish Poetry.
  • Various Odes. Mikoś, Michael J. (trans.). Staropolska On-Line.
  • I.19 “Longing for the Heavenly Homeland”
  • II.3 “To My Lute”
  • II.19 “From the Song of Songs”
  • II.26 “To the Holy Virgin Mother”

Skarga, Piotr. (1536-1612) Passages from “Eighth Sermon: On the Sixth Illness of the Commonwealth” from Sermons to the Diet.

1700s

 

Polish Constitution. (1791) Kasparek, Christopher (trans.). Polskie Konstytucje.

Drużbacka, Elżbieta. (1695-1765) “Pleas for the Improvement of Polish Morals.”

Krasicki, Ignacy. (1735-1801) Various Poems.

  • Mikoś, Michael J. (trans.). Modern Polish Poetry.
  • “Preface to Fables”
  • “Bear”
  • “Birds in a Cage”
  • “The Mouse and the Cat”
  • “Rat and the Cat”
  • “Sacred Love of our Cherished Homeland”
  • “Son and Father”

Trembecki, Stanisław. (c. 1739-1812) “To Madame Kossowska When Dancing.”

Wybicki, Józef. (1747-1822) “Dąbrowski’s Mazurka” (Polish National Anthem).

1800s

Jakubowski, A. A. (August Antoni). (c. 1815-1837) The Remembrances of a Polish Exile.

Koźmian, Kajetan. (1771-1856) “To the Dancing Cracow.”

Krasiński, Zygmunt. (1812-1859)

Malczewski, Antoni. (1793-1826) “Cossack on thy flying steed…” from Old Homes of New Americans.

Mickiewicz, Adam. (1798-1855)

  • “Uncertainty” (unknown trans.) and “Within their silent, perfect glass.” Hemley, Cecil (trans.). Scotch and Sirens.
  • Various Poems. Radin, Dorothea Proll (trans.). Polish Poems in English.
  • “Bakhchisaray” (unknown trans.)
  • “The Calm of the Sea” from The Heights of Tartankut
  • “The Grave of the Countess Potocki” (unknown trans.)
  • “The Pilgrim” (unknown trans.)
  • “The Ruins of the Castle at Balaklava” (unknown trans.)
  • “The Storm”
  • Various works. Modern Polish Poetry.
  • “The Romantic.” Auden, W.H. (trans.)
  • “Within their silent, perfect glass…” from Lausanne Lyrics. Hemley, Cecil (trans.)
  • “The Great Improvisation.” Part III, Scene 2 from Forefather’s Eve. Varese, Louise (trans.)
  • “The Prisoner’s Return.” Part III, Scene 7 from Forefather’s Eve. Peterkiewicz, Jerzy and Burns Singer (trans.)
  • “Invocation” from Pan Tadeusz. Kirkconnel, Watson (trans.)
  • “Thaddeus’s Awakening” and “Bear Hunt” from Book IV of Pan Tadeusz. Zakrzewski, Christopher Adam (trans.)
  • Crimean Sonnet III “The Crossing” Gregg, Richard A. (trans.)
  • Crimean Sonnet IV “The Tempest” Reavey, George (trans.)
  • Crimean Sonnet VI “Bakhchisarai” Caro, Angelica (trans.)
  • Crimean Sonnet X “Baidar” Reavey, George (trans.)
  • Crimean Sonnet XVI “Mount Kikineis” Mills, Clark (trans.)
  • Crimean Sonnet XVII “The Ruins of the Castle of Balaklava” Bogan, Louise (trans.)
  • Various Sonnets. Underwood, Edna Worthley (trans.). Sonnets.org.
  • “The Ackerman Steppe”
  • “Alushta by Day”
  • “Alushta by Night”
  • “Baktschi Serai”
  • “Baktschi Serai by Night”
  • “Baydary”
  • “Becalmed”
  • “The Grave of Countess Potocka”
  • “The Graves of the Harem”
  • “Mountains from the Keslov Steppe”
  • “On Juda’s Cliff”
  • “The Pass across the Abyss in the Tschufut-Kale” I and II.
  • “The Ruins of Balaclava”
  • “Tchatir Dagh (Mirza)”
  • “Tchatir Dagh (The Pilgrim)”
  • “Above water vast and pure…” Czerniawski, Adam (trans.). Toronto Slavic Quarterly.
  • “Faris.” Polish Poems in English.
  • “Over water wild and clear…” Dębska, Anita (trans.). Translation Journal. Also in Polish.
  • Passages from Pan Tadeusz. Zakrzewski, Christopher Adam (trans.). The Sarmatian Review XX.2, Rice University.
  • “Romanticism.” Britlinger, Angela (trans. and commentary) The Sarmatian Review XII.1, Rice University.

Norwid, Cyprian Kamil. (1821-1883)

  • “Feelings,” “Undressed,” and “Yesterday–and I.” Czerniawski, Adam (trans.). Toronto Slavic Quarterly. http://www.utoronto.ca/tsq/10/chernavsky10.shtml
  • Various Poems. Czerniawski, Adam (trans.). Polish Poems in English. http://daisy.htmlplanet.com/nor1.htm
  • “Aphorisms”
  • “As When…”
  • “Beauty”
  • Passage from “Black Flowers”
  • Passage from “Emancipation of Women”
  • “Fervour”
  • “Finis”
  • “A Funeral Rhapsody in Memory of General Bem”
  • “Generalities”
  • Give Me a Blue Ribbon…”
  • “Gods and Man”
  • “In an Album”
  • “In Verona”
  • “Lapidaria”
  • “Marionettes”
  • “The Mature Laurel”
  • “Memento”
  • “Nerves”
  • “My Country”
  • “Narcissus”
  • “The Past”
  • “Reality”
  • “The Small Circle”
  • “The Source”
  • The Sphinx”
  • “Such Depths”
  • “Tell Her — What?”
  • “Tenderness”
  • “Their Strength”
  • “To Emir Abd El Kader in Damascus”
  • Passage from “A Traveller’s Journal”
  • “Chopin’s Grand Piano.” Bałuk, Teresa (trans.). Translation Journal.  Also in Polish.
  • “Fate.” Brooke-Rose, Christine, Jerzy Peterkiewicz, and Burns Singer (trans.). Carcanet Press Poetry.
  • “Solitude.” Kurczaba, Alex. The Sarmatian Review XXII.3, Rice University. Also in Polish.

Osiński, Ludwik. (1775-1838)

  • “Lithuanian Song.” Lapkowski, Christopher (trans.). REC Music Foundation.

Pohl, Wincenty (AKA Pol). (1807-1872) “Leaves are Falling”

 

Słowacki, Juliusz. (1809-1849)

  • Various Poems. Wolkowski, Z. W. Slowacki.chez.com. English version is on the left.
  • “Agamemnon’s Tomb” Mikoś, Michael J. (trans.)
  • “Genesis from the Spirit” Chodkiewicz, K. (trans.)
  • “Hymn” Mikoś, Michael J. (trans.)
  • “My Testament” Mikoś, Michael J. (trans.)
  • Anhelli. Radin, ??? (trans.). Noyes, G. R. (ed.) Polish Poems in English.
  • “My Testament.” Zawadzki, Jarosław (trans.). Polish Poetry in English. Archive.org.
  • Passage from Pan Beniowski Canto 5. Zakrzewski, Christopher Adam (trans.). The Sarmatian Review XXII.2, Rice University.

Witwicki, Stefan. (1801-1847) “Drinking Song” and “Enchantment” (AKA “Czary”)

Late 1800s, Early 1900s

 

Asnyk, Adam (AKA Stożek, Jan). (1838-1897)

  • “Grey Horse” Singer, Burns (trans.) and “Pointless your mourning and your toil…” Rybicki, Jan (trans.) Modern Polish Poetry.
  • “Over the Depths.” Kurczaba, Alex (trans.). The Sarmatian Review XXIII.3, Rice University.
  • “To the Young.” Zawadzki, Jarosław (trans.). Polish Poetry in English. Archive.org.

Conrad, Joseph (AKA Korzeniowsk, Józef Teodor Konrad) (1857-1924)

Kasprowicz, Jan. (1860-1926) Various Poems.

  • Peterkiewicz, Jerzy and Burns Singer (trans.). Modern Polish Poetry.
  • “The Ballad of the Sunflower”
  • “The Day Before Harvest”
  • “Landscape on the Move”
  • “The Sunset”

Konopnicka, Maria. (1842-1910) “A Vision”

Orzeszkowa, Eliza. (1841-1910) The Argonauts.

Przerwa-Tetmajer, Kazimierz. (1865-1940)

Reymont, Władysław. (1864-1925) “Death” and “A Polish Scene”

Sienkiewicz, Henryk. (1846-1916)

Szymański, Adam. (1852-1916) “Kowalski the Carpenter” and “A Pinch of Salt”

Wyśpiański, Stanisław. (1869-1907) “How can I calm myself…” and “Let nobody weep over my grace…”

Żeromski, Stefan (AKA Zych, Maurycy and Katerle, Józef). (1864-1925)

Modern

 

Baczyński, Krzysztof Kamil. (1921-1944)

  • Various Poems. Kurczaba, Alex (trans.). Krzysztof Kamil Baczynski. Texas A&M University Corpus Christi.
  • “Elegy.” The Sarmatian Review, Sept. 1993.
  • “Erotic.” Modern Poetry in Translation 23-24 Spring 1975.
  • “The Glimpse.” Modern Poetry in Translation 23-24 Spring 1975.
  • “A Melody.” Modern Poetry in Translation 23-24 Spring 1975: 16.
  • “Night.” The Sarmatian Review, Sept. 1993.
  • “O You, My Silent Sadness.” The Sarmatian Review, Sept. 1993.
  • “Tropical Dream.” The Sarmatian Review, Sept. 1993.
  • “Where To?” The Sarmatian Review, Sept. 1998.
  • “White Magic.” Modern Poetry in Translation 23-24 Spring 1975: 15.
  • “To My parents.” Johnston, Bill (trans.). Krzysztof Kamil Baczyński. White Magic and Other Poems. The Warsaw Uprising 1944.
  • Various Poems. Kurczaba, Alex (trans.). The Sarmatian Review XXIV.2, Rice University.
  • “For you I’ll open a golden heaven”
  • “Holiness”
  • “Lullaby”
  • “The Spring”
  • Various Poems. Kurczaba, Alex (trans.). The Sarmatian Review XIII.3, Rice University.
  • “Elegy”
  • “Night”
  • “O You, My Silent Sadness”
  • “Tropical Dream”
  • “In every transformation resembling the sphere of time,” and “Theology.” Kurczaba, Alex (trans.). The Sarmatian Review XV.3, Rice University.
  • “Where To?” Kurczaba, Alex (trans.). The Sarmatian Review XVIII.2, Rice University.

Brzechwa, Jan. (1900-1966) “At the Vegetable Stall”

Bursa, Andrzej. (1932-1957)

  • “Chess” and “A Fairy Tale.” Christianson, Kevin and Halina Abłamowicz (trans.). The Cafe Irreal No. 22.
  • “Kicked” and “On a Streetcar.” Christianson, Kevin and Halina Abłamowicz (trans.).  The Sarmatian Review XXIV.3, Rice University.
  • “I would like to be a poet…” Scotch and Sirens (trans.).

Czechowicz, Józef. (1903-1939) Various Poems.

  • Peterkiewicz, Jerzy and Burns Singer (trans.). Modern Polish Poetry.
  • “Brain 12 Years Old”
  • “Grief”
  • “Idyllic Dream”
  • “Through the Borderlands”

Dąbrowska, Maria. (1889-1965) “Bogumił and Barbara” from Nights and Days, Part One.

Fierla, Adolf. (1908-1967) “Coal Mines”

 

Gałczyński, Konstanty Ildefons. (1905-1953)

  • Various Poems. Official Website of Konstanty Ildefons Gałczyński.
  • “The Enchanted Carriage”
  • “Golden Bath”
  • “In a Dream”
  • “In the Cottage”
  • “I wander Through Brussels, Drunk”
  • “A Letter from a Captive”
  • “Litany for the Isles of Delight”
  • “The Moon”
  • “Moon Dust”
  • “My Fairy Tales”
  • “Niobe”
  • “Sarg Street”
  • “Songs”
  • “Tiny Theatres”
  • “Why Does the Pickle Never Sing”
  • “Years I Have Loved You”
  • “Letter from a POW.” Keane, Barry (trans.). The Warsaw Voice. InfoPoland. State University of New York at Buffalo.
  • “Why Does the Pickle Never Sing?” Barańczak, S. and C. Cavanagh (trans.) and “Why Does the Cucumber Never Sing?” Korzeniowska, Aniela (trans.). Translation Journal.

Ginczanka, Zuzanna (AKA Gincburg, Zuzanna Polina). (1917-1944) “Non omnis moriar”

Gombrowicz, Witold. (1904-1969) “The Rat.”

Haupt, Zygmunt. (1904-1975) “Rain”

Iłłakowiczówna, Kazimiera (1888-1983). Various Poems.

  • Bassnett, Susan and Piotr Kuhiwczak (trans.). Modern Polish Poetry.
  • “Death”
  • “Illusions and Reality”
  • “Leaves Are Falling on Us”
  • “Poetry”
  • “The Return”
  • “There is no old age…”

Iwaszkiewicz, Jarosław. (1894-1980) King Roger, Opera in Three Acts.

Jastrun, Mieczysław. (1903-1983) Various Poems.

  • Barańczak, Stanisław and Clare Cavanagh (trans.). Modern Polish Poetry.
  • “Light from Another World”
  • “Mantegna’s Christ”
  • “Repatriate”
  • “Waiting in Line”

Kaden-Bandrowski, Juliusz. (1885-1944) “The Sentence”

Lechoń, Jan (AKA Serafinowicz, Leszek Józef) (1899-1956) “On the Death of Joseph Conrad”

 

Leśmian, Bolesław. (1877-1937)

  • Various Poems. Reisner, Ryszard J. (trans.) Ars Interpres Publications, No. 4 & 5.
  • “The Farm Shed”
  • “From Childhood Years”
  • “Here stay I…”
  • “Lord in Heaven Full of Glory”
  • Various Poems. Peterkiewicz, Jerzy and Burns Singer (trans.). Modern Polish Poetry.
  • “Brother”
  • “The Cemetery”
  • “In the Dark”
  • “Memories”
  • Various Poems. Peterkiewicz, Jerzy and Burns Singer (trans.). Scotch and Sirens.
  • “Brother”
  • “The Cemetery”
  • “In the Dark”
  • “Memories”
  • “Tango”
  • “Were I to meet you again for the first time” (unknown trans.)

Nałkowska, Zofia. (1884-1954) “At the Railroad Track”

Obertyńska, Beata. (1898-1980) “To the Women of Out There.”

Pawlikowska-Jasnorzewska, Maria. (1894-1945)

  • A Woman of Wonder: A Tragicomedy in Three Acts. Grossman, Elwira, Paul J. Kelly, and Stephen Grecco (trans.) Toronto Slavic Quarterly.

Poświatowska, Halina. (1935-1967)

  • “Ariadne’s Threat” and “Grandma.” Bassnett, Susan and Piotr Kuhiwczak (trans.). Modern Polish Poetry.
  • “I am of flowers…,” “Ode to Hands,” and “A Reminder.” Gąsienica-Byrcyn, Anna (trans.). Litanus 47.1
  • “Bird of My Heart,” “Call Me by Name,” and “The Mines of Metaphor Are Inexhaustible.” Łuczaj, Sarah (trans.). The Drunken Boat, Winter 2007.
  • Various Poems. Scotch and Sirens.
  • “he said – he loved he said…”
  • “I am dazed by the beauty of my body…”
  • “in your perfect fingers…”
  • “I want to write about you…”
  • “my lover is not that handsome…”
  • “Stanzas for Małgosia”
  • Various Poems. Polish Poetry.
  • Wiersze Wybrane and Passages from Dziela I and II. Ługowski, Marek (trans.). Halina FAQ.

Ptaśnik, Zofia Ludwika Małachowska. (1890-1941) A Polish Woman’s Daily Struggle to Survive. Parts I-V.

Schulz, Bruno. (1892-1942)

  • Various Stories. Davis, John Curran (trans.).
  • “August” from The Cinnamon Shops
  • “The Birds” from The Cinnamon Shops
  • “Mannequins” from The Cinnamon Shops
  • “A Treatise on Mannequins” or “The Second Book of Genesis” from The Cinnamon Shops
  • “A Treatise on Mannequins, Continued” from The Cinnamon Shops
  • “A Treatise on Mannequins, Conclusion” from The Cinnamon Shops
  • “The Other Autumn” from The Sanatorium at the Sign of the Hourglass
  • “The Mythologization of Reality.” Bates, John M. (trans.).

Słonimski, Antoni. (1895-1976)

  • “Elegy for the Little Jewish Towns.” Polishjews.org.
  • “To the Germans.” Scott, Peter Dale and Czesław Miłosz (trans.). Monkeychicken.

Stachura, Edward. (1937-1979)

  • “A Letter to the Remaining” and autobiographical sketches. Duszenko, Andrzej (trans.). Northern State University, Aberdeen.
  • Various Works. Duszenko, Andrzej (trans.). Northern State University, Aberdeen.
  • Passages from Axing
  • “Bright Stay on the River”
  • “Letters to Olga”
  • “One Day”
  • “With My Willpower I’ll Fall in Love with Her”
  • Various Poems. Duszenko, Andrzej (trans.). Northern State University, Aberdeen.
  • “Attempt at Ascension”
  • “Autumn”
  • “Children’s Games”
  • “Hair”
  • “Landscape”
  • “Metamorphosis”
  • “Scandinavia”
  • “Sunset in Provance”
  • “Dreams were found…”
  • “Each night…”
  • “In contemplating aluminum…”
  • “The sky is a well after all…”

Staff, Leopold. (1878-1957)

Swir, Anna. (AKA Świrszczyńska) (1909-1984)

  • “She Unborn” and “A Woman Talks to Her Thigh.” Reisner, Ryszard (trans.). Ars Interpres No. 6.
  • “The Greatest Love.” Miłosz, Czesław and Leonard Nathan (trans.). Plagiarist Poetry Archive.
  • “In a Meadow.” Baran, Grazyna and Margaret Marshment (trans.). Plagiarist Poetry Archive.
  • “The Sea and the Man.” Miłosz, Czesław and Leonard Nathan (trans.). Plagiarist Poetry Archive.
  • “She Does Not Remember.” Miłosz, Czesław and Leonard Nathan (trans.). Plagiarist Poetry Archive.
  • Various Poems. Bassnett, Susan and Piotr Kuhiwczak (trans.). Modern Polish Poetry.
  • “He Did Not Jump Down from the Third Floor”
  • “I do not accept…”
  • “Poetry Reading”
  • “Running on the Beach”
  • “Two Hundred and Eighty Degrees Below Zero”
  • “A Woman Writer Doing Her Washing”
  • “When I Dig Potatoes”

 

Tuwim, Julian. (1894-1953)

  • “Grass” Davis, Lawrence (trans.) and “Wife” Peterkiewicz, Jerzy and Burns Singer (trans.). Modern Polish Poetry.
  • Various Poems. Scotch and Sirens.
  • “The Dancing Socrates.” Gilloe, A. (trans.)
  • “Grass.” Davis, Lawrence (trans.)
  • “The Locomotive.” Whipple, Walter (trans.)
  • “Polish Flowers.” Fox, Frank (trans.)
  • “The Saturday Night Song.” Keane, Barry (trans.)
  • “To the Common Man.” (unknown trans.)
  • “Wife.” Peterkiewicz, Jerzy and Burns Singer (trans.)
  • “The Locomotive.” Whipple, Walter (trans.) LDS Mission Network.

Wat, Aleksander. (1900-1967)

Waźyk, Adam. (1905-1982)

Ignacy Witkiewicz, Stanisław. (AKA Witkacy) (1885-1939)

  • Passage from Les Formes Nouvelles en Peinture et les Malentendus Qui en Decoulent. Glanze, Walter D. (trans.). Notebook.
  • “Pure Form in the Theater.” Emory University.

Wojaczek, Rafał. (1945-1971)

  • Various Poems. Trans. Kaluza, Jan J. (trans.). Horward, Sherill (ed.). Polish Poetry.
  • “A Certain Commode or”
  • “Certain Situation”
  • “Cross”
  • “Five Sentences About Hair”
  • “Hanged Man’s Mistress”
  • “I, Kafka”
  • “Off Season”
  • “The Request”
  • “Song About a Poet”
  • “I live not seeing stars…”
  • “Who is that turning in my mirror…”
  • “Death Has Not Yet Found an Adequate Expression.” Vigoda, Frank L. (trans.). Perihelion 14.5.1. Follow the links to the author’s name.