On the occasion of the 130th anniversary of the birth of Kazimierz Wierzyński, one of the most outstanding Polish poets of the 20th century, flowers were laid from the President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda, at his grave at Powązki Cemetery in Warsaw
130th anniversary of Kazimierz Wierzyński's birth (photo: KPRP)
This gesture is a reminder of the timeless significance of Wierzyński's work and his unwavering attitude towards the challenges he faced in turbulent times.
Youth and the fight for independence
Kazimierz Wierzyński was born in 1894 in Drohobych, Galicia, at a time when Poland was under partition. From an early age, he was involved in the independence movement, which contributed to his arrest and internment during World War I by the Russians. His youth was marked by the fight for freedom, which later became one of the key themes of his poetry.
Literary successes and life in exile
After Poland regained independence, Wierzyński gained fame as a co-founder of the poetry group "Skamander", which played a huge role in the development of interwar literature. In 1928, he won a gold medal at the Olympic Games in Amsterdam for his book of poetry "Olympic Laurel", which made him the first Polish winner of this prestigious award.
The outbreak of World War II forced him to emigrate. Initially, he went to Lviv, then through France to the United States, where he collaborated with Radio Free Europe and published in emigre magazines, such as "Wiadomości" in London and "Kultura" in Paris. Despite the distance from his homeland, his work was constantly an expression of love for Poland and opposition to the communist reality.
A steadfast defender of Polishness
Wierzyński never came to terms with the Yalta order and the communist regime in Poland. His work was full of nostalgia for his lost homeland, but also anger towards the injustice and oppression brought by communist rule. In his poetry and journalism, he consistently strived to maintain Polish independence and preserve national identity.
After the end of the war, Wierzyński did not return to Poland, choosing to live in exile, where his voice in defense of freedom and Polishness gained enormous significance among the Polish diaspora and political emigrants.
Heritage and memory
Kazimierz Wierzyński died in 1969 in London, but his spirit lives on in Polish culture. Today, 130 years after his birth, his memory is still alive, and his work continues to inspire subsequent generations. The ceremony of laying flowers at his grave is a symbolic tribute to his steadfastness, patriotism and contribution to literature, which remains invaluable.
Source: KPRP
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