Finally everything is coming to life. In Polish culture, spring is a time to reawaken in ourselves the poet, the artist. Polish poets of the 20th century used spring to express profound meanings. From the reflective verses of Maria Pawlikowska-Jasnorzewska to the joyful Julian Tuwim. With lighter evenings, spring is full of renewal and hope. We can look back but mainly look forward, dreaming of plans yet to be realised.

One of the many patronages of the Polish parliament this year, is the 80th anniversary of the death of poet Maria Pawlikowska-Jasnorzewska (1891- 1945). She escaped Poland in 1939 and died in Manchester, England. Here are two of her concise poems about spring, the first full of emotional intensity:

Ogród – The Garden

Gdy wiosna zaświta,
jest w ogrodzie raz ciemniej, raz jaśniej.
Wciąż coś zakwita, przekwita.
Wczoraj kwitło moje serce. Dziś jaśmin.

When spring dawns
the garden is once darker, once lighter
Constantly something blooms.
Yesterday my heart bloomed. Today the jasmine.

Krokusy – Crocuses

Krokusy wyskakują z ziemi
jak wiolinowe nuty,
a panny się chylą nad niemi
i z nut układają bukiet.

Crocuses spring from the ground
like violin notes,
the young ladies lean over them
and arrange a bouquet from the notes.

Painter and poet

 Maria Pawlikowska grew up in the Kossak family of painters. She was a dramatist, a painter and also seen as queen of lyrical poetry. Later she associated with a group of poets in Warsaw including the well-known poet Julian Tuwim (of “Lokomotywa” fame – the Locomotive poem many people learnt at Polish school).

Called the Skamander group of poets, they were influenced by neo-romantics, emphasising the beauty of everyday life and all forms of life. Tuwim also wrote emotionally about spring:

Już w powietrzu wiosnę słyszę – Already I hear spring in the air

Już w powietrzu wiosnę słyszę…
Czy ty też?
Serce patrzy w me zacisze
Czy ty wiesz?

Already in the air I hear the spring
Do you also?
My heart looks into my serenity
Do you know?

Świat wiośnieje, w słońcu cały
W świtach zórz…
Wróble się rozświergotały
“Coz, czy już?”

The world turns into spring, surrounded by sun
In the dawns, the afterglow,
the sparrows chirp away “Really, is it here?”

Wiosna….Kwiaty mam i słońce
Czy Ty też?
a w oczach mam lzy gorace
Czy ty wiesz?

Spring… I have flowers and sunshine
Do you also?
and in my eyes I have hot tears
Do you know?

Julian Tuwim and Maria Pawlikowska-Jasnorzewska were both the recipients of the Golden Laurel of the Polish Academy of Literature in 1935. Julian also had some of his poems set to music – by Karol Szymanowski and Witold Lutoslawski amongst others.

A new world is awakening, the whole of nature is budding and blossoming, as should we. Take time this spring for yourself, appreciate the beauty, make plans and live again.

The painting by Maria Pawlikowska-Jasnorzewska is Self-portrait with Elf (c.1920). You may also want to read: