А Г, I A U N I V E R S I T Ä T I S L Ü Û H f N S I S F O L I A LI TT ERA ft IA 29, 1 9 90 A l e k s a n d r a A u g u s t y n i a k A M E R I C A N P O E R R Y IN P E R I O D I C A L S M A G A Z I N E S A N O N E W S P A P E R S IIS P R E S E N T A T I O N A N Ü C R I T I C A L R E C E P T I O N IN P O L A N O IN THE Y E A R S 1 9 4 5 - 1 9 8 0 In P o l a n d , a c o u n t r y w h e r e v e r y fe w c o l l e c t i o n s of A m e r i c a n p o e t r y a r e p u b l i s h e d a n d the h i s t o r y of t r a n s l a t i n g A m e r i c a n p o e t r y is full ol g a p з a n d v e r y i n c o n s i s t e n t , an e n o r m o u s l y i m -p o r t a n t r o l e in p r e s e n t i n g t he l i t e r a r y o u t p u t of p o e t s f r o m a c r o s s the A t l a n t i c f a i l s o n t o m a g a z i n e s , p e r i d i c a l s a n d n e w s -p a -p e r s . No t o n l y 3h o u l d th ey p r e s e n t c o n t e m p o r a r y American p o e -try b u t a l s o s u p p l y t h e P o l i s h r e a d e r w i t h i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t p o e t s a n d th ei r wo rk , f a c t s w i n c h a t e o b v i o u s to A m e r i c a n r e a d -e r s a r -e o t t -e n o v e r l o o k e d by P o l i s h r e c i p i e n t s b e c a u s e of their p o o r ..ensa ol c h r o n o l o g y a n d k n o w l e d g e of the A m e r i c a n p o e t i c t r a d i t i o n . A?j the P o l i s h r e a d e r s h a v e n o p o s s i b i l i t i e s of b u y -ing b o o k s of A m e r i c a n p o e t r y , th ey s h o u l d , at l e a s t, b e a b l e to s a t i s f y t h e i r c u r i o s i t y in t hi s f i e l d in th e literary p r e s s . In P o l a n d the d e l a y in p u b l i s h i n g A m e r i c a n p o e t r y a m o u n t s to t w e n t y or m o r e y e a r s ; a d d i t i o n a l l y in th e p e r i o d u n d e r d i s c u s -s i o n t r a n -s l a t o r -s a n d e d i t o r s p r e p a r i n g p o e t i c v o l u m e s w e r e so v e ry lauch o c c u p i e d w i t h c l a s s i c s t hat th ey d i d no t n o t i c e h o w o n c e c o n t e m p o r a r y p o e t s g r e w o l d a n d th at a n e w ge n e r a t i o n t o ok t h e i r p l a c e . Ihe g a p s b e t w e e n t h e c l a s s i c a l a n d c o n t e m p o r a r y , t he e l d a n d the y o u n g g e n e r a t i o n s c o u l d be a n d in m a n y c a s e s w e r e , b r i d g e d b y p e r i o d i c a l s a n d m a g a z i n e s . Th e c y c l e of p r e -p a r i n g a n d p r i n t i n g a n y p e r i o d i c a l is m u c h s h o r t e r t h e n th e p r o c e d u r e of p u b l i s h i n g an a n t h o l o g y or a c o l l e c t i o n of poeras; t h u s p e r i o d i c a l s h a v e a g r e a t a d v a n t a g e of t i m e o v e r b o o k s . C153
T h e i r e d i t o r s a r e l e s s r e s t r i c t e d in r e s p e c t of t h e i r o w n l i -t e r a r y -t a s -t e s a n d by the o b l i g a t i o n to p r e s e n t o n l y g o o d p o e m s a n d a c k n o w l e d g e d p o e t s . A l s o w h i l e the p u b l i s h i n g h o u s e s p r e -fer to s e l e c t f r o m p o e t s w i t h e s t a b l i s h e d p o e t i c a l r e p u t a t i o n s , p e r i o d i c a l s a n d m a g a z i n e s c a n e x p e r i m e n t . H o w e v e r , t h i s d o e s n o t m e a n th at p e r i o d i c a l s d o n o t p r e s e n t c l a s s i c a l p o e t r y ; Whit-m a n , O i c k i n s o n , M a s t e r s , F r o s t a n d S a n d b u r g i n v a r i a b l y f i n d t he i r p l a c e o n the c o l u m n s of th e l i t e r a r y p r e s s , b u t their do -m i n a t i o n t h e r e is n o t as p r o m i n e n t as in b o o k s of p o e t r y . The r o l e of l i t e r a r y p r e s s is n o t c o n f i n e d e x c l u s i v e l y to th e p r e s e n t a t i o n of p o e m s ; it is e q u a l l y v i t a l in p r e s e n t i n g r e v i e w s of c o l l e c t i o n s of p o e m s , a r t i c l e s o n s p e c i f i c p o e t o a n d g e n e r a l a r t i c l e s on th e h i s t o r y a n d th e p r e s e n t d a y of A m e -r i c a n p o e t -r y . In th e y e a r s 1 9 4 5 - 1 9 8 0 th e i n f o r m a t i o n , a r t i c l e s , n o t e s , d i s c u s s i o n s a n d r e v i e w s d e a l i n g w i t h A m e r i c a n p o e t r y w p p r p u b l i s h e d in n i n e t y si x v a r i o u s p e r i o d i c a l s , n e w s p a p e r s and m a g a z i n e s . T h e v a l u e of t h i s i n f o r m a t i o n w a s d i v e r s i f i e d s t a r t -ing f r o m s h o r t n o t e s a n n o u n c i n g th e p u b l i c a t i o n of a p o e t i c v o l u m e to r e f l e x i v e p a r a g r a p h s a n d d i s c e r n i n g r e v i e w s w r i t t e n by e m i n e n t c r i t i c s a n d t r a n s l a t o r s . The n a m e s of s o m e p o e t s w e r e f r e q u e n t l y m e n t i o n e d w h i l e o t h e r s d i d n o t a t t r a c t a n y a t -t e n -t i o n a n d t h e i r l i t e r a r y o u t p u t w a s n o t c o m m e n t e d u p o n . In an y c a s e , p e r i o d i c a l s w e r e t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t m e a n s of p o p u l a -r i z i n g A m e -r i c a n p o e t -r y a n d n o t a b a d o n e if we j u d g e by th e n u m b e r of p r e s e n t e d p o e t s , t h e i r p o e m s a n d g e n e r a l c r i t i c i s m . A m e r i c a n p o e t r y is w e l l r e c e i v e d in P o l a n d t h o u g h it s k n o w -l e d g e is s t i -l -l far f r o m s a t i s f a c t o r y , in s p i t e of t he n u m e r o u s a t t e m p t s of t h e e d i t o r s a n d t r a n s l a t o r s at m a k i n g it m o r e w i -d e l y k n o w n . T h e p e r i o d o f t i m e t a k e n i n t o c o n s i d e r a t i o n in th e p r e s e n t a n a l y s i s e m b r a c e s t h i r t y f i v e y e a r s . O u r i n g t h i s t i m e t h e p r e -s e n t a t i o n of A m e r i c a n p o e t r y in p e r i o d i c a l s , m a g a zi n es a n d n e w s -p a -p e r s h a d its b e t t e r a n d w o r s e y e a r s . It s p o p u l a r i t y s e e m e d to g r o w w i t h t he y e a r s p a s s i n g a f t e r W o r l d W a r II. T h e a c t i v i -ty of the p u b l i s h i n g b o u s e s a n d p r e s s c o m p a n i e s w a s r e v i v e d s p o n t a n e o u s l y a f t e r 1 94 5 b u t n o t m u c h a t t e n t i o n w a s p a i d to A m e r i c a n p o e t r y . The i n t e r e s t in A m e r i c a n p o e t r y in t h e f i r s t d e c a d e a f t e r
t he S e c o n d W o r l d W a r w a s r e l a t i v e l y s m a l l . E s p e c i a l l y in the y e a r s 1 9 4 5 * 1 9 5 0 t h e n u m b e r of p o e m s p u b l i s h e d w a s small. O u t of t he v e r y fe w p o e t s p r e s e n t e d , th e m o s t f r e q u e n t l y p u b l i s h e d o n e s w e r e R o b e r t F r o s t , N i c h o l a s V a c h e l L i n d s a y , Henry W a d s w o r t h L o n g f e l l o w , E d g a r L e e M a s t e r s , A r c h i b a l d M a c L e i s h , C a r l S a n d -b u r g a n d M a ) t W h i t m a n , al l of t h e m w e l l - k n o w n p o e t s , w i t h an e s t a b l i s h e d p o s i t i o n on t h e A m e r i c a n l i t e r a r y s c e n e . It is w o r t h m e n t i o n i n g t ha t j u s t a f t e r t h e w a r, e d i t o r s h a d n o i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t A m e r i c a n p o e t r y , s o t h e a s s u m p t i o n to p u b l i s h c l a s s i c s f i r s t w a s an u n d e r s t a n d a b l e o n e , t h o u g h o n the o t h e r h a n d so fe w p o e m s w e r e p u b l i s h e d , t h a t t h ey d i d n o t g i v e t h e r e a d e r e v e n a v a g u e k n o w l e d g e o f A m e r i c a n p o e t r y . In the b a c k g r o u n d r e m a i n e d s u c h p o e t s as: S. V. B a n e t , W. B r y n n e r , J. S. C o t t e r , E. C u r r a n , Q. D o d s o n , J. G. F l e t c h e r , . M. G o l d , H. H o d e g o r n , F. J o h n s o n , E. M a r k h a m , H. L. J o h n s o n , w h i c h p e r h a p s is n o t a g r e a t l o s s as t i m e h e s p r o v e d . S o m e of t h e s e n a m e s a r e q u i t e o b s c u r e t o d a y . A l s o t he t i t l e s of s o m e m a g a z i n e s in whic h t h e i r p o e t r y w a s p u b l i s h e d s o u n d s o m e w h a t a l i e n to p r e s e n t d a y P o -l i s h r e a d e r : " O d r o d z e n i e " , " K o b i e t a D z i s i e j s z a " , " D z i d i J u -tr o " , " N a u k a i S z t u k a " , " W i e ś " , " ^ w i o t P r z y g ó d " , " P r a w o C z ł o -w i e k a " , n e x t to o n e s of g r e a t e r i m p o r t a n c e : " T w ó r c z o ś ć " , "Odra", " P r z e k r ó j " , or " T y g o d n i k P o w s z o c h n y " . U n d o u b t e d l y t he f i r s t p l a c e o n t h i s l i s t in t h e n u m b e r of p o e m s p u b l i s h e d f a l l s to " O d r o d z e n i e ” , a m a g a z i n e f o u n d e d in 19 44 w i t h K. K u r y l u k as e d i t o r - i n - c h i e f ( p u b l i s h e d t i ll 1 9 50 ). T h e e d i t o r s of the l a t e f o r t i e s h a d n o p r e c o n c e p t i o n s in s e l e c t i n g p o e m s fo r p u b l i c a t i o n a n d n o c l e a r p o l i c y as to w h a t the P o l i s h r e a d e r s h o u l d b e p r e s e n t e d w i t h . T h e f i f t i e s a r e m u c h m o r e d i f f i c u l t to e v a l u a t e . Th e b e g i n n i n g of t h i s p e -r i o d b -r o u g h t the p u b l i c a t i o n of p o e m s of l i t t l e p o e t i c v a l u e , b u t i m p o r t a n t f r o m the p o l i t i c a l p o i n t of v i e w of t h e er a . Th us t h e r e a d e r go t t r a n s l a t i o n s of H o w a r d F a s t ’s a n d Ethel R o -s e n b e r g ’-s p o l i t i c a l p o e m s ; c o u l d a p p r e c i a t e the p o e t i c ę r ę a - t i o n of C. J. B r o m b e r g , S . A. B r o w n , J. S. C o t t e r , W. C u n e y , R. D a v i d s o n , A. A. D u c k e t t , S. H e y m , R. M e n d e n , M. (Juin ( R y a n P a u l ) , Г. S e g a l - p o e t s a l m o s t f o r g o t t e n t o d a y b u t at the ti m e f i l l i n g ] y p u b l i s h e d in " O z i ä i J u t r o " o r " N o w a K u l t u r a " . O u t of t h is m a s s of m e d i o c r e w r i t i n g e m e r g e d t h e n a m e s of . L a n g s t o n
H u g h e s , I t i gar L e e M a s t e r s a n d T h o m a s M e r t o n ; the p o e m s ot the f i r g t o n « w e r e p u b l i s h e d in " D z i ś i J u t r o " , " N o w a K u l t u r a " , " S ł o w o P o l s k i e " a n d " S p r a w y i L u d z i e ” , w h i l e t ho s e of th e two o t h e r s in th e C a t h o l i c w e e k l y " T y g o d n i k P o w s z e c h n y " . Ih e i r p o -s i t i o n w a -s c o n f i r m e d by t i m e a n d by the f a c t th at d u r i n g the n e x t t w e n t y f iv e or m o r e y e a r s t h e e d i t o r s a l w a y s f o u n d p l a c e for thei r p o e t r y o n the c o l u m n s of P o l i s h m a g a z i n e s .
In t h e h i s t o r y of t r a n s l a t i n g a n d p u b l i s h i n g the y e a r 1 9 55 s t a n d s o u t b e c a u s e of t h e r e l a t i v e l y h i g h n u m b e r of p u b l i c a t i o n s as w e l l as the t e l l i n g f a ct t h at t h i s p r o f u s i o n w a s n o t a c c o m -p a n i e d by a v a st r e p r e s e n t a t i o n of p o e t s . O n l y t h r e e of t h e m h a d t h e i r p o e m s p u b l i s h e d in P o l i s h t r a n s l a t i o n s , a n d t h e o n e wh u o c c u p i e d a l m o s t all the s p a c e w a s W a l t W h i t m a n . I n d e e d 1955 w a s t he y e a r of W h i t m a n , as t h e n the c e n t e n a r y of t h e f i r s t p u -b l i c a t i o n of " L e a v e s of C r a s s " in th e U S A w a s .c e l e b r a t e d . W h i t-m a n w i t h h i s d e t-m o c r a t i c o u t l o o k s s u i t e d th e p o l i t i c a l a t m o -s p h e r e of the time . " W h i t m a n r e c a l l e d th e l o s t i n n o c e n c e , a n d h i s n a i v e p h i l o -s o p h y w a -s to be a s h o t of f r e s h b l o o d for th e f a d i n g i d e a l s of the m o r e or l e ss l i b e r a l d e m o c r a t i c s y s t e m s - the i d e a w h i c h m a n y of h i s t r a n s l a t o r s in v a r i o u s c o u n t r i e s l i k e d v e r y m u c h " 1 . H o w e v e r , n o p o l i t i c a l i n t e r p r e t a t i o n c o u l d s po i l the a p p e a l an d p o e t i c v a l u e of W h i t m a n ’s p o e t r y , no m i s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n c o u l d d a m a g e h i s p o e t i c r e p u t a t i o n . T h e i n t e r e s t of critics a n d t r a n s -l a t o r s w a s v e r y p r o f i t a b l e fo r t he r e a d e r w h o r e c e i v e d a t a s t e of h i s p o e m s a n d a r e a l l y g r e a t n u m b e r of a r t i c l e s , s o m e of t h em q u i t e i l l u m i n a t i n g . An y s e l e c t i o n of p o e t r y is b e t t e r t h a n n o n e , e s p e c i a l l y t h a t p o e t r y s p e a k s b e s t for i ts e l f. W h i t m a n ’s p o e t r y , in q u i t e a b r o a d , b u t p o l i t i c a l l y o r i e n t e d s e l e c t i o n w a s p u b l i s h e d in the 5 0 ’s in a w i d e r a n g e of m a ga zi ne s a n d n e w s -p a -p e r s of a m o r e g e n e r a l c h a r a c t e r . W a l t W h i t m a n ’s p o e m s w e r e a l s o p u b l i s h e d in t h e s i x t i e s a n d s e v e n t i e s , b ut n e v e r a f t e r 19 5 5 w e r e t h e y s o n u m e r o u s . It is w o r t h o b s e r v i n g t h a t his p o e m s w e r e v e r y l a r e i y p u b l i s h e d in t h e r e s p e c t e d l i t e r a r y m a g a z i n e s 1 H. К r z e с z к o w s к i, K o m u p o t r z e b n a b i o g r a f i a , " T w ó r c z o ś ć ” 1 9 7 2, nr 9, p. 120.
s u c h as " P o e z j a " , " Ż y c i e L i t e r a c k i e " or l a t e r in " li t er a tu r a na ś w i e c i e " . W a l t W h i t m a n is a r e c o r d h o l d e r in th e n u m b e r of a r t i c l e s p u b l i s h e d d e a l i n g w i t h h i s l i f e a n d p o e t r y . As m a n y a s t w e n t y six a r t i c l e s a p p e a r e d in 195 5 , in t h e y ea r w h e n W h i t m a n h a d h i s g r e a t c o m e b a c k in P o l a n d . W a l t W h i t m a n w a s a l w a y s e n t h u s i a s t i -c a l l y r e c e i v e d as an o p t i m i s t i c a n t a g o n i s t of i m p o s i n g a n y l i -m i t a t i o n u p o n h u -m a n n a t u r e . " T h e joy of li fe, h e a l t h a n d power, the r i s e of a f r e e i n d i v i d u a l , the b r o t h e r h o o d of p e o p l e , the u n i t y of m a n w i t h the p o w e r f u l f o r c e s of n a t u r e , r e s o u n d in t h es e p o e m s , f i r s t of all h e pu t iri t h e m an o v e r w h e l m i n g s y m -p a t h y w i t h t h o s e w h o c o n s i d e r t h e m s e l v e s th e m o s t hu m b le in th e 2 w o r l d " . Ihe c r i t i c s s t r e s s W h i t m a n ’s a f f i n i t y to s i mp l e peop-le, t he b r o t h e r h o o d , v i t a l i t y , e n e r g y a n d a f f i r m a t i o n of l i f e t h at he p r o p a g a t e d . " W h i t m a n ' s p r a i s e of a s i m p l e w o r k e r a nd n o t o n l y the m a g n a t e s of i n d u s t r y , b e a u t i f u l l a d i e s a n d g r e a t l e a d e r s , h i s p r a i s e of f l e s h a n d b l o o d - c a u s e d , in h i s l i f e -t i me a re al s h o w e r of r e p r o a c h e s o n the p a r t of th e b o u r g e o i s cr itics"''. W h i t m a n w a s th e f i r s t p o e t w h o m a d e A m e r i c a , h i s c o u n t r y , s u c h an i m p o r t a n t e l e m e n t o £ h i s p o e t r y . " W h i t m a n lov-es a n d e m b r a c e s h i s c o u n t r y as o ne w o u l d a f r i e n d . If h e h i m -s e l f i-s th e p r o t a g o n i s t of h i s p o e m s - A m e r i c a is a n a c t i v e b a c k g r o u n d - an e l e m e n t p r e s e n t e v e r y w h e r e . T h e p a g e s of the p o e t ’s b o o k s r e f l e c t th e h u g e c o n t i n e n t l i k e th e w a t e r s of the o c e a n t . . J B u t to the p o e t ’s h e a r t c l o s e r t h a n th e s t a r s a n d s t o n e s ar e th e p e o p l e of h i s c o u n t r y - t h ei r g a l v a n i z e d bodi es , t h e i r v i g i l a n t t h o u g h t s - p e o p l e , t h e s e l e a v e s of g r a s s , of 4 w h i c h the n a t i o n c o n s i s t s " . A p a r t f r o m b i o g r a p h i c a l d e t a i l s the c r i t i c s p a i d q u i t e a lot of a t t e n t i o n to th e n o v e l t y of f o r m a l e l e m e n t s in W h i t m a n ’s p o e t r y . " H e w r o t e p o e m s n o t c o n n e c t e d by a n y r h y m e b u t by a s p e c i f i c r h y t m i c a l c a d e n c e of a p e c u l i a r m e l o d y r e s e m b l i n g the 2 Z. Ł u b i e ń s k a , O p i e w a ł p r a c ę i p o k ó j , " I l u s t r o w a -ny K u r i e r P o l s k i " 19 55 , n r 157, p. 5. 3 G. B i d w e l 1, W a l t W h i t m a n - p o e t a ż y c i a p o w s z e d n i e -go, " P r o b l e m y " 1 9 55 , nr 7, p. 4 6 8 - 4 7 3 . ^ М. В i e s z c z a d o w s к i , W i a t r o d H u d s o n u , " D z i ś i J u t r o " 19 55, nr 14, p. 8.
c h o r u a of a G r e e k t r a g e d y w i t h its p r o f u s i o n a n d v a r i e t y of r h y t h m s . We c a n a l s o l o ok fo r the p r o t o t y p e s of t hi s p o e t i c s in a n c i e n t H e b r e w l i t e r a t u r e a n d B i b l i c a l v e r s e s w i t h their c h a -r a c t e -r i s t i c m e l o d i c p r o l i x i t y . The p o e t h i m s e l f s t a t e d th a t the s o u n d of the o c e a n w a s the a n a l o g y fo r h i s p o e m s " J . T h e s e f a c t s d o n o t s o u n d r e v e l a t i o n a l to a n A m e r i c a n r e a d e r w h o h u n d r e d y e a r s a f t e r t h e p u b l i c a t i o n of " T he L e a v e s of G r a s s " c a n n o t be s h o c k e d by W h i t m a n ’s v o i c e w h i c h b e c a m e t h e f u n d a m e n -tal p a r t of the A m e r i c a n p o e t i c t r a d i t i o n . W h i t m a n ’s vo i c e, h o w e v e r s t i l l s o u n d e d n e w f o r th e P o l i s h r e a d e r s and c o n t r a s t e d w i t h p o e t i c c a n o n s a c k n o w l e d g e d in o u r p o e t r y . " W h i t m a n b r o k e w i t h th e a c c e p t e d f o r m s of v e r s i f i c a t i o n . H i s v e r s e s a r e s o m e -t i m e s b r i s -t l i n g w i -t h -t h e r i c h n e s s of w o r d s q u i t e u n e x p e c t e d l y a r r a n g e d . E l s e w h e r e h i s p o e t r y i3 c h a r a c t e r i z e d by a n i n t e n -t i o n a l m o n o -t o n y of w o r d s ” 6 . J a n i n a S z o t in " T y g o d n i k P o w s z e c h -ny " ad ds : " T h e s t y l e a n d i m a g e s w e r e t a k e n f r o m t h e B i b l e a n d O l d H e b r e w p o e t r y : th e a c c u m u l a t i o n of s y n o n y m s , th e p a r a l l e -l i s m of s e n t e n c e s a n d p h r a s e s , a n t o n y m s , s u p p l e m e n t s , g r a d u a -ti o n , r h e t o r i c a l q u e s t i o n s , t h e m o s t l o f t y w o r d s n e x t to t h e m o s t c o m m o n o n e s L... J The m o s t c h a r a c t e r i s t i c ' f e a t u r e s of W h i t m a n ’s p o e t r y ar e : l o v e , d e m o c r a c y , r e l i g i o n , a l o n g i n g for l i f e in f r e e d o m , an u n l i m i t e d b e l i e f in t h e k i n d n e s s of Go d, p e o p l e ar>d th e u n i v e r s e " 7 . The l a t e f i f t i e s , s t r a t i n g f r o m 1 9 57 b r o u g h t in s o m e f r e s h a i r i n t o m a g a z i n e s a n d p e r i o d i c a l s . T h e s c e n e of f o r e i g n p o e -t ry -t r a n s l a -t i o n s b e c a m e m o r e l i v e l y , c o r r e s p o n d i n g m o r e to the n e e d s of r e a d e r s a n d the w i l l i n g n e s s of e d i t o r s a n d t ra n s la t o rs to p r e s e n t g o o d A m e r i c a n p o e t r y in a w i d e r s e l e c t i o n . The n u m b -er o f b o t h , a r t i c l e s a n d p o e m s p u b l i s h e d g r e w s t e a d i l y in the l a t e f i f t i e s a n d e a r l y s i x t i e s b u t s t i l l th e a m o u n t o f p u b l i -c a t i o n s w a s n o t p a r t i c u l a r y h i g h . The l i s t of n a m e s o f p o e t s w h o s e p o e t r y w a s p r e s e n t e d to t h e P o l i s h r e a d e r w a s n o t p a r t i -5 * J. S k o k o w s k i , W i e s z c z z M a n h a t t a n u , "Ż oł nierz W o l -n o ś c i “ 1955, nr 113, p. 4. 6 Z . Ł u b i e rt s к a , O p i e w a ! p r a c ę i p o k ó j , " I l u s t r o w a n y K u r i e r P o l s k i " 19 55 , n r 157, p. 5. 1 3 . S 7 o t, W a l t W h i t m a n , " T y g o d n i k P o w s z e c h n y " 1955, nr 28, p. 6-7.
c u l a r y l o n g b u t s o m e n e w i m p o r t a n t n a m e s f o u n d t h e i r p l a c e on it; n e x t tos R. F r o s t , L. H u g h e s , V. L i n s a y , H. W. L o n g f e l l o w , A. M a c L e i s h , E. L. M a s t e r s , C. 5 a n d b u r g or W. W h i t m a n a p p e a r e d th e n a m e s w h i c h f r o m t h e n o n w o u l d c o n s t a n t l y b e p r e s e n t in th e l i t e r a r y p r e s s ; f i r s t of a il t hat of E z r a P o u n d , t h e n E. E. C u m m i n g s a n d E. D i c k i n s o n as w e l l as t h o s e of L. F e r l i n g h e t t i , 0. F i n k e l , R. L o w e l l , M. M o o r e , H. N e m e r o v , Th. R o e t h k e or W. S t e v e n s . I h e i r p o e t r y w a s p u b l i s h e d m a i n l y in s u c h m a g a z i -n e s as " K u l t u r a " , " N o w a K u l t u r a " , " T w ó r c z o ś ć " , " T y g o d n i k P o w -s z e c h n y " , " W s p ó ł c z e s n o ś ć " or " Ż y c i e l i t e r a c k i e " . A l s o in 19 6 0, a p o p u l a r w e e k l y " P r z e k r ó j " b e g a n t he p u b l i c a t i o n of O g d e n Nas h’s h u m o r o u s p o e m s in t h e t r a n s l a t i o n of L. J. K e r n . In t h e y e a r s 1 9 6 0 - 1 9 6 9 , s i x t y t h r e e O g d e n N a s h ’s p o e m s w e r e p r e s e n t e d a n d in P o l a n d the f a c t s h o u l d h a v e m a d e h i m o n e of t he m o s t w i d e l y k n o w n A m e r i c a n p o e t s . The m i d - f i f t i e s in A m e r i c a r e s o u n d e d w i t h t h e v o i c e s of th e " B e a t G e n e r a t i o n " . T h i s l i t e r a r y a n d s o c i a l p h e n o m e n o n w a s n ot o v e r l o o k e d by P o l i s h c r i t i c s . S t a r t i n g f r o m 1 9 5 8 t i l l t h e l a t e s e v e n t i e s the s p i r i t of t h e B e a t n i k s c o n s t a n t l y e m e r g e d a n e w in the P o l i s h m a g a z i n e s . The i d e a l s , th e p r o g r a m m e or the a n t i p r o g r a m m e of th e B e a t G e n e r a t i o n w e r e f i r s t p r e s e n t e d t h r o u g h a r t i -c l e s -c o n s i d e r i n g t he s o c i a l r e a s o n s a n d i m p l i c a t i o n s of t h e m o -v e m e n t , it s o u t w a r d f o r m s a n d m a n i f e s t a t i o n s r a t h e r t h a n the l i t e r a r y a c h i e v e m e n t s of the p o e t s w h o w e r e s a i d to b e l o n g to th is gr o u p . The f i r s t p o e m of I. F e r l i n g h e t t i w a s p u b l i s h e d o n l y in I 96 0 , G i n s b e r g ' s in 19 6 3 a n d the fe w p o e m s c o u l d n o t g i v e th e r e a d e r an id ea as to t he k i n d of t h e i r p o e t r y . T h e m o v e m e n t a n d it s r e p r e s e n t a t i v e w e r e i n t r o d u c e d in c r i t i c a l a r -t i c l e s b u -t n o -t -t h r o u g h -t h e i r o w n p o e -t i c vo i c e . The " B e a t G e n e r a t i o n " w a s f r e q u e n t l y c o m p a r e d to t h e " L o s t G e n e r a t i o n " of t he t w e n t i e s : "At f i r s t g l a n c e , t h e » B e a t G e n e -r a t i o n s is a n e w , d e g e n e -r a t e d v e -r s i o n of the » L o s t G e n e -r a t i o n « . U n d o u b t e d l y t h e r e a r e s o m e r e s e m b l a n c e s b e t w e e n t h e g e n e r a t i o n s a f t e r W o r l d W a r I a n d W o r l d W a r II b u t t h e r e a r e a l s o c o ns i d e r -a b l e d i f f e r e n c e s . T h e » l o s t « w e r e f e r t i l i z e d by t h e c o n t a c t w i t h E u r o p e , s t i l l li t by t h a t l a s t r a y of i t s g l o r y " 8 . " T h e 8 Th e B e a t G e n e r a t i o n , a r e p r i n t f r o m " N e w S t a t e s m a n ” , "Mo-wa K u l t u r a " 1 9 58 , n r 4 1 , p. 8.
B o h ê m e of the t w e n t i e s . w a s a p r o t e s t a g a i n s t p r o v i n c i a l i s m , t s m u g n e s s anci mo ra l h y p o c r i s y w h i c h r u l e d A m e r i c a of t h a t time. It w a s a m o v e m e n t in the n a m e of c i v i l i z a t i o n ! w i t h i n t e l l i -g e n c e , i n t e l l e c t u a l r e f i n e m e n t as it s id e a ls . Th e B o h ê m e o f the f i f t i e s is t o t a l l y d i f f e r e n t . F i r s t of all it is h o s t i l e to c i v i l i z a t i o n . It w o r s h i p s p r i m i t i v i s m , i n s t i n c t , e n e r g y a n d a b l u o d " . The P o l i s h c r i t i c s a n a l y z e d s o c i a l a s p e c t s of the " B e a t " m o v e m e n l a n d the p l a c e of the B e a t n i k s in the A m e r i c a n s o c i e t y . T h e " B e a t n i k s " w e r e f r e g u e n t l y c a l l e d , a f t e r Ja c k K e -r o u a c " t h e c h i l d -r e n of the s a d A m e -r i c a n p a -r a d i s e " w h o do no t try to s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t th e p o l i t i c a l e s t a b l i s h m e n t a n d the A m e -r i c a n w ay of l if e b u t o n l y n e g a t e them. " T h e i r r e b e l l i o n ma y be d e f i n e d n o t s o m u c h as a i m l e s s b u t as o n e w i t h o u t a destina-ti on. It is a r e b e l l i o n w h i c h d o e s n o t p r e p a r e , d o e s n ot i n -t e nd -to p r e p a r e an y s o c i a l c h a n g e " 1 0 . In o t h e r a r t i c l e s c r i t i c s c o m p a r e d th e " B e a t G e n e r a t i o n " w i t h th e A n g r y Y o u n g M e n, h u t t he y u s u a l l y c o n s i d e r e d their p h i -l o s o p h y " s i m p -l e r a n d m o r e e x p r e s s i v e t h a n t he f a i r l y i n t e l l e c - t u a l i z e d s u l k s of t h e » A n g r y « in E n g l a n d " 1 1 . The g e n e r a t i o n t j r n e d a g a i n s t w e a l t h a n d l u x u r y , a g a i n s t p r o g r e s s , r a d i o , t e -l e v i s i o n , m e c h a n i s a t i o n a n d t h e a m e n i t i e s o f c o n t e m p o r a r y life. L e s z e k E l e k t o r o w i c z w r o t e : Th e B e a t n i k s w a n t to s h o c k , they b r e a k w i t h c o n v e n t i o n s ) t h ey r e c i t e t h e i r p o e m s in th e c a f e s of S a n F r a n c i s c o to the r h y t h m of ja z z , t h e y d r i v e t h e i r c a r s o n t h e r o a d s of A m e r i c a , d r i n k a l c o h o l , s m o k e m a r i j u a n a . D r u g a d d i c t s ? A l c o h o l i c s ? E r o -t o m a n i a c s ? H o m o s e x u a l s ? 12 S u c h q u e s t i o n s w e r e q u i t e f r e q u e n t a m o n g critics, o t h e r d o u b t s c o n c e r n e d the l i t e r a r y o u t p u t of t h e g r o u p . T he p h e n o m e n o n c a l l e d » B e a t G e n e r a t i o n « w a s c o n s i d e r e d by s o m e a s o c i a l on e : a r e b e l l i o n a g a i n s t th e c o n f o r m i t y of l i f e 9 S i g n e d " k r z " , C y g a n e r i a n i e u k ó w , " N o w * K u l t u r a " 19 5 8 „ nr 29, p. 12. 10 B e a t G e n e r a t i o n , " P r z e g l ą d K u l t u r a l n y " 1959 , nr 1), p. В. î11 I b i d em . 12 t.. E 1 e к t o r o w i с z, B e a t G e n e r a t i o n , " O d r a " 1959, nr 35, p . 2.
a n d it s p h i l o s o p h y , a g a i n s t t h e d u l l n e s s a n d t h e a t t i t u d e of i n s i p i d m a t e r i a l i s m . A n o t h e r o p i n i o n t r e a t s t h e B e a t m o v e m e n t , f i r s t a n d f o r e m o s t , as a l i t e r a r y p h e n o m e n o n . T h e b i z a r r e c l o -t h e s a n d u n c o n v e n t i o n a l b e h a v i o u r of the g r o u p a r e o n l y a s u -p e r f i c i a l e x -p r e s s i o n of d e e p e r a n d m o r e m e a n i n g f u l l c h a n g e s 1 3 . Th e c r i t i c s w e r e v e r y c a r e f u l in f o r m i n g t h e i r o p i n i o n s a- b o u t th e l i t e r a r y a c h i e v e m e n t s of t he B e a t n i k s as t he y d i d no t k n o w if t h e y w o u l d s t a n d the t e st of ti m e. S e r i o u s is n o t t h e ’b e a t l i t e r a t u r e i t s e l f b u t t he f a c t of t h e e x i s t e n c e of b o r e d o m , s p i r i t u a l e m p t i n e s s , a w i l l i n g n e s s to s e l f - d e s t r u c t i o n , e v e n if th is r e a d i n e s s e x h a u s t s i t s e l f in g e s t u r e s a n d d o e s n o t s e e m to t h r e a t e n w i t h a n y v i o l e n t a c -t i o n s . A p p a r e n t l y n o n e of th e c r i t i c s s e e s a n y o u t s t a n d i n g a r -t i s -t i c v a l u e s in t h i s l i t e r a t u r e , at l e a s t n o o n e i m a g i n e s th e p o s s i b i l i t y of u s i n g it o n l y f or a e s t h e t i c p l e a s u r e 1 4 . The s a m e p r o b l e m l o o k s s o m e w h a t d i f f e r e n t l y f r o m t h e p e r -s p e c t i v e of time . In 1 9 6 9 J u l i u s z K y d r y ń s k i w r o t e ; As far as t h e i r s i g n i f i c a n c e is concerned, t h e w r i t e r s of th e ’B e a t G e n e r a t i o n ’ d i d n o t p r o d u c e a n y m a s t e r p i e c e s , b u t if we c o n s i d e r th e s o c i a l r e s p o n s e t h e y g o t , t h e y c a n n o t c o m p l a i n . The b e a t m o v e m e n t f u l f i l l e d , e s p e c i a l l y in it s f i r s t m a n i f e s -t a -t i o n s ( l i t e r a r y a n d m o r a l ) an u n d o u b t e d l y p o s i t i v e f u n c t i o n , T u r n i n g a w a y f r o m the s o c i e t y l i v i n g in th e c o g s a n d r i g o u r s of A m e r i c a n s u p e r c i v i l i z a t i o n , the ’B e a t n i k s ’ p r o t e s t e d a g a -i n s t -it s a n t i h u m a n i s t i c a n d a n t i h u m a n i t a r i a n m a n i f e s t a t i o n s , a g a i n s t it s a d o r a t i o n of m o n e y , f i n a l l y a g a i n s t it s b r a n d i s h -i n g t he a t o m b o m b " 1 5 . The d i s c u s s i o n o n t h e B e a t G e n e r a t i o n c o n t i n u e d in th e f o l -l o w i n g y e a r s . M u c h w a s s a i d a b o u t it in th e r e v i e w s c o n c e r n -ing the a n t h o l o g y " W i z j o n e r z y i b u n t o w n i c y ” , e d i t e d by T e r e s a T r u s z k o w s k a in 1976 a n d p u b l i s h e d by W y d a w n i c t w o L i t e r a c k i e , w h i c h c o n t a i n e d th e p o e t r y of th at p e r i o d . L a t e r " N o w y W y r a z " c a m e o u t w i t h a r e t r o s p e c t i v e a r t i c l e on t h e l i t e r a r y a c h i e v e -M ł o d z i p o e c i a m e r y k a ń s c y , " N o w a K u l t u r a " 19 61 , n r 14/ /1 5. p. 16. B e a t G e n e r a t i o n , " P r z e g l ą d K u l t u r a l n y " 19 5 9, nr 13, P. B. J> J u l i u s z K y d r y ń s k i , K o n i e c D r o g i , " D z i e n n i k P o l s k i " 1969, nr 26 1 , p. 4.
m e n t s uf the ’B e a t G e n e r a t i o n ’ 1 6 . In the severities the c r i t i c s no l o n g e r d e n i e d the l i t e r a r y v a l u e s of t he p o e t r y w r i t t e n by th e B e a t n i k s c l a i m i n g that : The c o n t e m p o r a r y a v a n t - g u a r d c a m e i nt o b e i n g on the v e r g e of t h e s i x t i e s in th e s h a d e of the s k y s c r a p e r s of M a n h a t t a n a n d in the n e i g h b o u r h o o d of the b u s y a v e n u e s of S a n F r a n c i s co . It a p p e a r e d w i t h the b e a t n o i s e a n d r e f l e c t i v i t y o f the p r o -t e s-t s o n g s r e j e c t i n g th e a p p e a s e d r e v o l t s . It wa s p r e c e d e d by O l d e n b u r g ’s h a p p e n i n g s an d p o p art, w h e n N e w Y o r k b e c a m e the c e n t r e of a r t i s t i c d i s s i d e n t s , d e t h r o n i n g o l d E u r o p e w h i c h wa s too d e e p l y e n t a n g l e d in c o n v e n t i o n s . O n l y L o n d o n t r i e d to d e f -e n d i t s e l f in its s a l o n s of m o d e r n art. S u c h w a s th e b a c k -g r o u n d of the A m e r i c a n p o e t s w h o m th e c r i t i c s c a l l e d th e ’B e a t G e n e r a t i o n ’ 1 7 . The d e b a t e s of t h e " B ea t G e n e r a t i o n ” e x t e n d e d fa r b e y o n d the s i x t i e s . Bu t a p a r t f r o m the i n t e r e s t in " B e a t G e n e r a t i o n " that p e r i o d wa s a l s o c h a r a c t e r i z e d by a g e n e r a l i n t e r e s t in A- merican p o e t r y a n d it s h i s t o r y . The y e ar 1965 b r o u g h t t he f o u n d i n g of a m o n t h l y " P o e z j a ” ( " P o e t r y " ) , 19 71 " L i t e r a t u r a na Ś w i e c i e " ( " L i t e r a t u r e in the W o r l d " ) a n d 1972 " N o w y W y r a z " ( " N e w E x p r e s s i o n " ) . With th e f o u n -d a t i o n of t h e s e m a g a z i n e s the n u m b e r of p r e s e n t e d p o e t s , arti-' c l e s a n d p o e m s p u b l i s h e d g r e w c o n s i d e r a b l y . I he a i m of th e m o n t h l y " P o e z j a " is to p r e s e n t p o e t r y f ro m al l o v e r the w o r l d t o g e t h e r w i t h it s c r i t i c a l e v a l u a t i o n . T h o u g h m u c h s p a c e is o c c u p i e d by t he l i t e r a r y o u t p u t of P o l i s h p o -ets, the l i t e r a t u r e of o t h e r n a t i o n s , E n g l i s h an d A m e r i c a n a- m o n g t h e m is not n e g l e c t e d , In th e y e a r s 1 9 6 5 - 1 9 8 0 " P o e z j a " p r e s e n t e d s u c h p o e t s as F . E. C u m m i n g s , L. H u g h e s , R. F r o s t , V. L i n d s a y , E. L. M a s t e r s , E. P o u n d , Th. R o e t h k e , W. S t e v e n s , as w e l l as R. B r a u t i n g a n , Ch. B u k o w s k i , M. H a l e s , 0. H a l l , H. N e m e r o v , E. R o l f e or M. R u k e y s e r ~ t h i s list, of n a m e s is n ot full bu t s e e m s to e m b r a c e th e m o s t i m p o r t a n t o n e s . I n d e e d , in c a s e of " P o e z j a " a n d a fe w y e a r s l a t e r " L i t e r a t u r a na k w i e c i e " a s e p a r a t e e s s a y c o u l d be w r i t t e n p r e s e n t i n g in g r e a t e r d e t a i l 16 W. B. F 1 e i 9 с h in a n n, S p o j r z e n i e ria p i s a r z y B e a t G e -n e r a t i o -n , t r a -n s i . A. A d a m i a k , " N o w y W y r a z " 1979 , n r 1, p. q 7-ÏÛi. 17 W. P a i ń i e w s к i, Tezetjsz w S u p e r m a r k e c i e , " P o e -z j a" 19 73, nr 4, p. 58.
the a c h i e v e m e n t s of it s e d i t o r s , t r a n s l a t o r s a n d c r i t i c s . T he c o l l e c t i v e w o r k of t he e d i t o r i a l s t a f f of " P o e z j a " u n d e r t h e l e a d e r s h i p of J. 2. J a k u b o w s k i a n d s t a r t i n g f r o m 1 9 7 2 of 8. D r o z d o w s k i , “L i t e r a t u r a n a ś w i e c i e " w i t h W. K u b a c k i a n d W. S a d -k o w s -k i as e d i t o r s - i n - c h i e f , w h o in t he y e a r s 1 9 7 1 - 1 9 8 0 e d i t e d the m o n t h l y w i t h t he h e l p of a g r e a t n u m b e r of e m i n e n t p o e t s , t r a n s l a t o r s a n d c r i t i c s , a n d " N o w y W y r a z " e d i t e d b y J a n W i t a n , t h e n b y J a n u s z T e r m e r , g a v e th e P o l i s h r e a d e r a w i d e r a c c e s s to c o n t e m p o r a r y A m e r i c a n p o e t r y . T he p r o f i l e of " l i t e r a t u r a na S w i e c i e " d i f f e r s f r o m t h a t of " P o e z j a " , w h i c h is a p o e t i c m a -g a z i n e o n l y . " L i t e r a t u r a na ś w i e c i e " p r e s e n t s t h e l a t e s t l i t e -r a -r y a c h i e v e m e n t s o f p o e t s a n d p r o s e w r i t e r s f r o m va ri ous c o u n -t r i e s , c r i -t i c i s m b y P o l i s h c r i t i c s a n d r e p r i n t s o f c r i t i c a l a r t i c l e s f r o m a b r o a d . It a i m s at p u b l i s h i n g t he l a t e s t l i t e r a r y w o r k s b u t d o e s n o t o m i t w o r k s of th e o l d e r g e n e r a t i o n if th e e d i t o r s f e el t h at t h e y a r e w o r t h p r e s e n t i n g to th e P o l i s h r e a d -er. T h u s w e h a v e t h e n a m e s of R . F r o s t , V. L i n d s a y , R. Lo well, E. L. M a s t e r s , E. P o u n d a n d W. C. W i l l i a m s a s w e l l as R. B l y, V. C a n t o s k y , G. C o r s o , S. D a b n e y , A. G i n s b e r g , D. J u s t i c e , H. N o r s e , F. O ’H a r a , M. P i e r c y , S. P l a t h , W. S t a f f o r d , or J. W r i g h t . C o n t e m p o r a r y A m e r i c a n p o e t r y is e l e g a n t , it m a i n t a i n s q u -ite a g o o d s t a n d a r d . B u t is d o e s n o t s u r p a s s it. A n d t h a t is it s t r a g e d y . O n l y o n e p o e t - E z r a P o u n d - w h o is a l m o s t u n k n o w n in o u r c o u n t r y , s u r p a s s e s it in a l l r e s p e c t s a n d utterly s t a n d s o u t f r o m th e g e n e r a l b a c k g r o u n d 18. S t a r t i n g f r o m 1 9 5 6 P o u n d ’s p o e t r y w a s p u b l i s h e d in v a r i o u s p e r i o d i c a l s ( “L i t e r a t u r a n a świecie"., " M a g a z y n Kulturalny", " P o e -z j a " , " T w ó r c z o ś ć " , " T y g o d n i k P o w s z e c h n y " , " W s p ó ł c z e s n o ś ć " a n d " 2 y c i e L i t e r a c k i e " ) in t h e t r a n s l a t i o n s of: K. B o c z k o w s k i , В. D r o z d o w s k i , J. N i e m o j o w s k i , J, P r o k o p , J. M. R y m k i e w i c z , А, S z y m a ń s k i o r q u i t e r e c e n t l y L. E n g e l k i n g . In s p i t e of t h e e d i - t o r i a l p l a n s a s e p a r a t e c o l l e c t i o n of P o u n d ’s p o e m s w a s n e v e r p u b l i s h e d , b u t in t h e n u m b e r o f p o e m s p u b l i s h e d in p e r i o d i c a l s he is in th e le a d . H e is a l s o a l e a d e r in th e n u m b e r of c r i -1Ô J. S t a w i Л s к i , P r z e d m i e ś c i a U S A - p o e z j a , " P r z e g l ą d K u l t u r a l n y " 1 9 57 , nr 4, p. Ц ,
ti c a l a r t i c l e s c o n c e r n i n g h i m t h at a p p s a r e d in p e r i o d i c a l s . P o u n d ’s c r i t i c a l r e c e p t i o n in P o l a n d is a m b i g u o u s . It is a d d i t i o n a l l y e n c u m b e r e d w i t h P o u n d ’s f a s c i s t o u t l o o k s a n d b i s c o l l a -b o r a t i o n w i t h M u s o l l i n i . H o w e v e r , the p u n i s h m e n t i n f l i c t e d on m a n c a n n o t i n c l u d e h i s c r e a t i o n . It b e l o n g s , n o m a t t e r if we w a n t it or n o t , to the H e n e r a l o u t p u t of h u m a n t h o u g h t , w h i c h is a l w a y s e n d a n g e r e d w i t h the ri sk of m i s t a k e [ . . .Î In c a s e of P o u n d this r i s k w a s a l w a y s b ig . A n d th i s w a s h i s t r a g i c fa te . In s e a r c h of p u r e art h e c u t th e r o o t s J o i n i n g the t h o u g h t w i t h the c o n c r e t e a n d b e -c a m e n o t a -c i t i z e n b u t an e x i l e of t he w o r l d M o s t c r i t i c a l a r t i c l e s a p p e a r e d a f t e r P o u n d ’s d e a t h in 1972. fczra P o u n d w a s a l e g e n d b u t n o t a p o s i t i v e one. The fa ct of c o l l a b o r a t i o n w i t h f a s c i s m d e c i d e d a b o u t h i s li fe a n d w o rk , a n d he p a i d for it o n e of t h e h i g h e s t p r i c e s that a ny w r i t e r d i d in the 2 0*h c e n t u r y L H e w a s t he v i c -t im uf hi s o w n -t h e o r y of f r e e d o m of c h o i c e , a p o e t w h o t h o u g h t t h a t h e h a d r e a c h e d th e s t a n d a r d w h e r e a n y a c t i v i t y , b e c a m e , p a r e x c e l l e n c e c r e a t i v e a n d w h o a l r e a d y in h i s l i f e t i m e b e c a m e a h i s t o r i c a l f i g u r e , th e o b j e c t ol d e f e n d i n g m e e t i n g s a n d j u s t i -f y i n g e x p l a n a t i o n s . T i me c a n n o t e x c u l p a t e h i m b u t it g i v a s the n e c e s s a r y d i s t a n c e to u n d e r s t a n d th e i n c o m p r e h e n s i b l e m e n -tal a b b e r a t i o n i n t o w h i c h h e w a s p u s h e d a l s o by ar t, th e d o -m a i n of i -m -m o r a l s e l f i s h n e s s 20 The c r i t i c s do n o t d o u b t th e a r t i s t i c v a l u e s of th e p o e m s w r i t t e n in the t w e n t i e s of o u r c e n t u r y аз " H u g h S e l w y n M a u b e r - le y" or t h e o n e s c o l l e c t e d in "Lustra''. H o w e v e r , t h e e v a l u a -t i o n of P o u n d ’s " C a n t o s " , e s p e c i a l l y " T h e P i s a n C a n t o s " is c o n -t r o v e r s i a l . K r z y s z t o f M ę t r a k t h i n k s that: P o u n d a c h i e v e s t h e t o n e of g e n u i n e g r e a t n e s s o n l y in the p o s t - w a r » P i s a n C a n t o s « a d o c u m e n t of c o n s c i o u s n e s s of a m a n w h o h a d g o n e t h r o u g h h e l l a n d c a m e o u t in the d a y l i g h t a s a v i c t i m of h i s t o r y 21 . E . 2 y c i e ń s k a , Po ś m i e r c i £ z r y P o u n d a , " P o e z i a “ 1973, nr 4, p. 75. 20 К. M ę t r a k, ś m i e r ć w W e n e c j i , " L i t e r a t u r a n a Ś w i ę -c i e " 1973, nr 3, p. 3 0 3 - 3 0 4 . i. M ę t r a k, Ś m i e r ć w W e n e c j i , " L i t e r a t u r a n a Ś w i e -c i e ” 19 73 , nr 3, p. 315.
B ut w h a t e v e r th e c r i t i c a l o p i n i o n s a b o u t P o u n d ar e, o n e m u s t a c k n o w l e d g e h i s p o e t i c g e n i u s . O n e d o e s n o t h a v e t o a g r e e w i t h h i m , b u t it is h a r d to d e n y h i m, a n e x c e p t i o n a l g e n i u s irs g i v i n g s h a p e s to p o e m s , t he » C a n -t o s « in p a r -t i c u l a r 22. In t h e i r a r t i c l e s P o l i s h c r i t i c s d i d n o t a i m a t a ny b r o a d g e n e r a l i z a t i o n s a b o u t A m e r i c a n p o e t r y a n d r i g h t l y s o as A m e r i -c a n p o e t r y is t oo v a r i e d to b e s u m m e d u p in a f e w s e n t e n c e s . H o w e v e r , e d i t o r s , t r a n s l a t o r s a n d c r i t i c s h a v e d o n e a lo t to m a k e A m e r i c a n p o e t r y k n o w n to the P o l i s h r e a d e r . E v e n the g r e a t -e s t s c -e p t i c s c a n n o t n -e g l -e c t th-e i m p o r t a n c -e of t h -e l i t -e r a r y p r -e s s in p r e s e n t i n g a r t i c l e s o n A m e r i c a n p o e t r y , r e v i e w s of b o o k s of p o e m s a n d a n t h o l o g i e s , a n d th e n u m e r o u s a t t e m p t s of ttie e d i t o r s a n d t r a n s l a t o r s at m a k i n g its a p p e a l w i d e c . B u t th e g o o d w i l l of the e d i t o r s is n o t a d e c i s i v e f a c t o r in the p r e s e n t a t i o n a n d c r i t i c a l r e c e p t i o n of an y f o r e i g n l i t e r a t u r e . T h e c u l t u r a l a n d l i t e r a r y c o n t a c t s b e t w e e n P o l a n d a n d t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s ar e c o n d i t i o n e d by m a n y o t h e r f a c t o r s - p o l i t i c a l , c u l t u r a l a n d s o -c i a l . A d d i t i o n a l l y , in -c a s e of th e P o l i s h l i t e r a r y a n d p u b l i s h -i ng s c e n e , o n e h a s to t a k e i n to c o n s i d e r a t i o n o t h e r l i m i t a t i o n s s u c h as th e p r o b l e m s of th e p r i n t i n g i n d u s t r y , l i m i t e d n u m b e r of the l i t e r a r y p r e s s t i t l e s a n d th e l i m i t e d c i r c u l a t i o n o f the e x i s t i n g p e r i o d i c a l s . T h e s e o b s t a c l e s ar e s o m e t i m e s so g r e a t that t h e y o b s c u r e the c l e a r v i s i o n of A m e r i c a n p o e t r y a n d it s r e c e p t i o n in P o l a n d . t)n th e w h o l e t h e c r i t i c a l r e c e p t i o n of A m e r i c a n p o e t r y in P o l a n d w a s m o r e f a c t u a l t h a n c r i t i c a l , m o r e c o n c e n t r a t e d o n s p e c i f i c p o e t s t h a n s y n t h e t i c , t r y i n g to e m b r a c e t h e A m e r i c a n p o e t i c s c e n e as a w h o l e . F r e q u e n t l y t h e c r i t i c a l o p i n i o n s w e r e s o c i o l o g i c a l l y o r i e n t e d - s t r e s s i n g the p o l i t i c a l , e c o n o m i c or s o c i a l b a c k g r o u n d of th e p o e t s a n d n o t t h e a r t i s t i c v a l u e s of t h e i r w o rk . Th ey d i d n o t r e f r a i n f r o m m o r a l e v a l u a t i o n s w h i c h w a s e s p e c i a l l y p r o m i n e n t in c a s e of W h i t m a n , P o u n d or t h e p o e t s of t h e B e a t G e n e r a t i o n . T h e p o e m s w e r e s c a t t e r e d in v a r i o u s p e -2 V P. R u s s e l 1, E z r a P o u n d , t r a n s i - M. N i e m o j e w s k a , ’' P o e z j a “ 19 7 Uj nr 3, p. 65. All t h e q u o t a t i o n s w e r e t r a n s l a t -e d by t h-e a u t h o r .
r i o d i c a l s ao o n l y a fe w m a g a z i n e s ( " L i t e r a t u r a na S w l e c i e " , " P o e z j a " , " Ż y c i e L i t e r a c k i e " , " N o w y W y r a z " , " T y g o d n i k P o w s z e -c h n y " ) c o u l d , o n th e b a s i s of t h e p o e m s published, p r e s e n t m o r e g e n e r a l a r t i c l e s a n d r e f l e x i v e es s a y s . It m u s t be a l s o r e m e m b e r e d t h at th e p r e s e n t a n a l y s i s d e a l s o n l y w i t h t r a n s l a t i o n s of A m e r i c a n p o e t r y a n d its c r i t i c a l e v a -l u a t i o n in P o l a n d w i t h o u t c o n s i d e r i n g P o l i s h l a n g u a g e p e r i o -d i c a l s p u b l i s h e -d ab r o a -d . H o w e v e r , th is s h o u l d n o t s i g n i f i c a n t l y c h a n g e the p i c t u r e of A m e r i c a n p o e t r y a n d i t s p e n e t r a t i o n i n t o the P o l i s h l a n g u a g e a n d c u l t u r e in s p i t e of th e f a ct t h a t P o -l i s h p e r i o d i c a -l s p u b -l i s h e d a b r o a d s e e m to b e l e s s l i m i t e d in t he s p h e r e of s e l e c t i o n , h a v e a m o r e d i r e c t а с с е я в to the n e w e s t p o e m s a n d m a n y e m i n e n t t r a n s l a t o r s w o r k fo r them. A l e k s a n d r a A u g u s t y n i a k A M E R Y K A Ń S K A P O E Z J A W C Z A S O P I S M A C H - PK EZ FNT AC .I A T K R Y T Y C Z N A R E C E P C J A W P O L S C E W L A T A C H 1 9 4 5 - 1 9 8 0 W l a t a c h 1 9 4 5 - 1 9 8 0 r o l a c z a s o p i s m w p r e z e n t a c j i t ł u m a c z e ń p o e z j i a m e r y k a ń s k i e j n i e o g r a n i c z a s i ę j e d y n i e do p r e z e n t a c j i s a m y c h w i e r s z y . D r u k u j e s i ę w i e l e a r t y k u ł ó w i r e c e n z j i p r z y -b l i ż a j ą c y c h c z y t e l n i k o w i z a r y s h i s t o r i i l i t e r a t u r y a m e r y k a ń -s k i e j i j e j -s p o ł e c z n e tło. I n f o r m a c j e , a r t y k u ł y , n o t a t k i , cz y d y s k u s j e p u b l i k o w a n e b y -ły w 96 g a z e t a c h , c z a s o p i s m a c h , c h o ć w a r t o ś ć ty ch p u b l i k a c j i b y ł a r ó ż n a , p o c z y n a j ą c od w n i k l i w y c h a r t y k u ł ó w i r e c e n z j i , na k r ó t k i c h i n f o r m a c j a c h b i o g r a f i c z n y c h k o ń c z ą c . W l a t a c h 1 9 4 5 - 1 9 0 0 l i c z b a p u b l i k a c j i b y ł a m a ł a , a n a j c z ę -ś c i e j p r z e d s t a w i a n y m i p o e t a m i b y l i k l a s y c y : F r o s t , M a s t e r s , L o n g f e l l o w , S a n d b u r g , W h i t m a n . Z c z a s e m l i c z b a p u b l i k a c j i r o -s ł a i p o j a w i a ł y -s i ę n o w e n a z w i -s k a , c h o ć n i e k i e d y r a c j e p o l i t y -c z n e p r z e s ą d z a ł y o i c h w y b o r z e . R ok 19 55 o b f i t o w a ł w w i e r s z e W h i t m a n s , k t ó r e g o d e m o k r a t y c z n e p o g l ą d y p a s o w a ł y do a t m o s f e r y c z a s u . P ó ź n e l a t a p i ę ć d z i e s i ą t e p r z y n i o s ł y d u ż o l i c z n i e j s z e p u b l i -k a c j e t ł u m a c z e ń p o e z j i a m e r y k a ń s k i e j . O b o k n a z w i s k j u ż z n a n y c h p o j a w i ł y s i ę n o w e : P o u n d , C u m m i n g s , 0 .icki n s o n, Lowell, R o e t h k e , S t e v e n s . Do t y g o d n i k a " O d r o d z e n i e " , g d z i e p o c z ą t k o w o p u b l i k o -w a n o n a j -w i ę c e j , d o ł ą c z y ł y " K u l t u r a " , " T w ó r c z o ś ć " , " T y g o d n i k P o w s z e c h n y * ' , " Ż y c i e L i t e r a c k i e " . N a ł a m a c h p o l s k i e j p r a s y d y s k u t o w a n o na t e m a t " B e a t G e n e r a -t i o n " i P o u n d a , o b o k k l a s y k ó w p r z e d s t a w i a n o b a r d z i e j w s p ó l c z e s
-n y c h p o e t ó w . Po ws ta wał y, -n o w e b a r d z o z n a c z ą c e c z a s o p i s m a : " P o e -z j a ". " L i t e r a t u r a n a Ś w i ę c i e " , " N o w y W y r a z " . R e c e p c j a p o e z j i a m e r y k a ó b k i e j b y ł a c z ę ś c i e j f a k t o g r a f i c z n a n i z k r y t y c z n a , r z a d k o p o j a w i a ł y sirj s y n t e t y c z n e a r t y k u ł y u k a z u -j ą c e s z e r s z e t ło l i t e r a c k i e , a w i e l e o p i n i i p o d k r e ś l a ł o p o l i t y -c z n e , e k o n o m i -c z n e i s o -c j a l n e a s p e k t y p o e z j i , s n u j ą c r o z w a ż a n i a m o r a l n e , a p o z o s t a w i a j ą c n a u b o c z u w a r t o ś c i a r t y s t y c z n e ( z w ł a -s z c z a w p r z y p a d k u W h i t m a n s , Pourida, cz y p o e t ó w " B e a t G e n e r a -t i o n " ) .
