On Elegia Uśpienia [Elegy of Putting to Sleep]

Abstract

The article presents a penetrating analysis and interpretation of elegia uśpienia by Józef Czechowicz. Subsequent elements of the poem's construction are described in such a way that their double status is revealed: while creating an immanent structure they refer the reader to areas of culture that are often vast and satiated with a lot of meanings. One of the basic motifs of the sketch is pointing to a clear analogy between the 'dark' (and also - paradoxically - 'illuminative') tone of elegia... and the nature of poetical speech. At the same time the author constructs his reasoning in such a way that it can reveal the capabilities and limitations of measures taken by theorists of literature, and also become a reflection on the essence of 'reading'.