Jerzy Harasymowicz

(1933–1999) – poet.

Debuted as a poet in 1953 in “Życie Literackie”. From then on, he published poems and articles in many periodicals, including “Nowa Kultura”, “Twórczość”, “Tygodnik Powszechny”. In 1957 he founded the literary group Muszyna, and ten years later was one of the co-founders of a group called Barbarus.

Starting from his debut, his work was dubbed “poetry of vision”, full as it was of fantastical, colourful imagery. With time, he became associated with mountain and landscape poetry, and work referring to urban folklore; it was the aftermath of his volume “Powrót do kraju łagodności” (A Return to the Land of Gentleness). It effortlessly combines elements of the real world and everyday reality with the fantastic: fairytales and folk imagination. The landscapes of his poetry, created with childlike fantasy, are peopled by gnomes, muses, fauns, centaurs, angels, devils, witches, water nymphs. Elements of the natural world freely transcend into a fairytale, surreal dimension. The poet often combined individual pieces into larger cycles or extended poems.

One of the key themes of his work is the nature of southern Poland. There, he found traces and memories of Lemko culture, such as derelict churches and cemeteries. This can be seen in the poem “Elegie Łemkowskie” (Lemko Elegies) from the volume “Podsumowanie zieleni” (A Summary of Verdure). Harasymowicz also wrote about the folklore of big-city suburbia, most often Zwierzyniec in Cracow, as in one of his best-known poems, “Bar Na Stawach” (The Na Stawach Bar).

He also liked to use elements of medieval and baroque culture, for example in the cycle “Barokowe czasy” (Baroque Times) from the volume of the same title, in the book “Polowanie z sokołem” (Hawking) or the poem “Lisowczycy” (Lisowczyks). He juxtaposed traditional props with contemporary, everyday experience, often with a dash of irony. Gifted with a sense of humour, he often used direct, warm lyricism, expressing considerable tenderness towards the world. With time, he increasingly introduced notes of anxiety and loneliness into his work; these can be found in his final poetry books.

Harasymowicz wrote two plays: “Worożycha” (Bitter Buttons) and “Schronisko” (Shelter). The former was published in “Dialog”, and the latter adapted for the radio and broadcast by Radio Katowice. His work often inspired musicians performing sung poetry, artists from the so-called “land of gentleness” genre, for example Elżbieta Adamiak and Wojciech Belon.

The poet received many awards, including the Stanisław Piętak Prize, the Kościelski Award, The Minister of Culture and Art Award 2^nd Class (1975), and 1^st Class (1985). He was also awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta.