A fascinating article on the traps and tensions of language, especially in the context of its international development and poetry…
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Contemporary Polish Writing in Translation
Bow Bridge
Out of the past, I retrieve a thick calendar
its Provence meadows smelling of lavender
piercing March with a naked sunflower and,
abandoned across January, Bow Bridge, its
padded white arch across Central Park,
leading towards a thick clump of cherry trees
suddenly drowning in the end in eclectic darkness,
the sun stuck high up to the right tightly shading
the fine alabaster balustrade upon which by night
so often lovers are wont to sit for ages, for good,
to the left, out of ribbed waters, biscuit coloured
twin skyscrapers flee towards the heavens,
thousands of panicked pupils trapped behind glass
scanning down towards rusty bulrush musings,
startled lavender horses galloping across the bridge
January 2010 started with new website and whole new mission statement. No mish-mash of words and images in all languages from all corners of the world, as before. Focus on translations from Polish into English, with the aim to then move into other languages and genres in years to come.
First book launch in March 2010. We shifted a total of 13 copies of ANTHOLOGIA#1. Ominous? Considering how much publishing the book and making the film to go with it cost in terms of time, effort and money, not good, but that experience was instructive in what we were going to do next;
Trailer: Through The Grey Zone from OFF_PRESS on Vimeo.
By May, we had translated and published over 40 poets and prose writers on our on-line portal. Then we launched a contemporary poetry competition with Zeszyty Poetyckie, I took a cinematic trip round Poland translating our next book and took part in the Festa Fatuorum festival of poetry and alternative arts in Gniezno;
EVERYTHING POETRY STILL – TEST CUT from OFF_PRESS on Vimeo.
Growing interest in the OFF_PRESS project meant we had enough poets to publish two books instead of one – ANTHOLOGIA#2 and FREE OVER BLOOD (both will be appearing in early 2011). So instead we printed a limited run of Young Polish Artists, commissioned by the Deconstruction Project and linked to the Polish Arts Festival in Eastbourne in October.
Then another trip to Poland, this time to film three more documentaries – about Rafal Gawin, Jakobe Mansztajn and Grzegorz Kwiatkowski – three of Poland’s most interesting young poets, whose books OFF_PRESS will be publishing in the spring.
Many more books are in the pipeline for the coming months. Definitely more women – Joanna Lech, Wioletta Grzegorzewska and an anthology of contemporary Polish verse written by women poets. And more films. And more collaborations – with the Polish Cultural Centre, who helped us launch our second book in October. With Spoldzielnia Literacka and their live reading demos;
TRZECIE ZJEDNOCZENIE CZYTELNICZE DLA TWARDZIELI from OFF_PRESS on Vimeo.
And with 3:AM Magazine and Maintenant, on bringing the world of contemporary European poetry in translation to a wider audience;
Maintenant Icelandic Poetry Event 27/11/2010 from OFF_PRESS on Vimeo.
Stick with us, 2011 will be even more extraordinary than 2010.
Marek Kazmierski, OFF_PRESS
| Grzegorz Kwiatkowski, born 1984 in Gdansk – poet, musician. Published his first collection of poems “The Crossing” in 2008, then “Eine Kleine Todesmusik”in 2009 and now “Weaken” in 2010. Once upon a time, a street musician in Liverpool. Currently, a member of the group Trupa Trupa. Shortlisted for the prestigious Politika Passports twice (2009 and 2010). Winner of the Young Artist of the Year in Gdansk (2009). Beneficiary of the Grazella Foundation scholarship (2009). Winner of numerous national poetry competitions (incl. Władysława Broniewskiego, Witolda Gombrowicza, Złoty Środek Poezji). Twice nominated by Gazeta Wyborcza for the Storm Of the Year prize (2008, 2009). Nominated for the Splendor Gedanensis Prize (2009). Published in, among others, Tygodnik Powszechny, Gazeta Wyborcza, Dziennik, Lampa, Dwutygodnik, Kwartalnik Artystyczny, Topos and Odra. |
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| Grzegorz Kwiatkowski Rocznik 1984. Mieszka w Gdańsku. Poeta, muzyk. Wydał trzy tomy wierszy: “Przeprawa” (2008), “Eine Kleine Todesmusik” (2009), “Osłabić” (2010). W przeszłości muzyk na ulicach Liverpoolu. Obecnie członek zespołu Trupa Trupa. Dwukrotnie zgłoszony do Paszportów Polityki (2009, 2010). Laureat Nagrody Miasta Gdańska dla Młodych Twórców (2009). Stypendysta Fundacji Grazella (2009). Stypendysta Miasta Gdańska (2010). Laureat ogólnopolskich nagród poetyckich (m.in. Władysława Broniewskiego, Witolda Gombrowicza, Złoty Środek Poezji). Dwukrotnie nominowany przez Gazetę Wyborczą do nagrody Sztorm Roku (2008, 2009). Nominowany do nagrody Splendor Gedanensis (2009). Publikował m.in. w Tygodniku Powszechnym, Gazecie Wyborczej, Dzienniku, Lampie, Dwutygodniku, Kwartalniku Artystycznym, Toposie i Odrze. |
OFF_PRESS will soon be publishing the English language translation of this young poet’s trilogy of books – here he is in interview with Marek Kazmierski…
How do you see Gdansk and its literary scene?
Not sure if a lot happens here, but some events do, in Gdansk and more across the Tri-city, Gdynia, Sopot, but I don’t take part in such things, at all, never been to literary events, apart from the one where I was invited to read, and I did once go to a poetry slam, which was enough for me. I don’t feel the need, they give me nothing, I know these things happen, but they don’t recharge my batteries.
Tell us about the Polish poetry scene today…
Hard to know what to say, as there is not much in there for me. I could say I don’t like it, it’s not good, bad perhaps, but why, I’ve been reading the same authors for years, Ted Hughes, Philip Larkin, Walt Whitman, Czeslaw Milosz when it comes to Poland. Sometimes I reach for Polish writers, but again I don’t feel my mind energised by contemporary Polish poetry… I feel energised by the Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters, or by Robert Lowell. I do write poetry, but I’m not subject to it. I want to use it, explore it, but I don’t want to be its servant. Language should serve me, not I it.
by Maria Jastrzębska
Recent funding from the Wellcome Trust has allowed Lewes Live Lit to further develop this locally acclaimed production working with scientists at MARC (Memory Assessment & Research Centre) in Southampton and The Nuffield Theatre, located on the campus of Southampton University, home to a substantial Clinical Neuorosciences department.
Maria Jastrzębska’s moving literary drama tells its story through a series of interwoven monologues exploring the interactions and private worlds of an Anglo-Polish family where both parents are suffering the onset of different types of dementia.
Performed by Polish and British actors, this production combines tenderness with moments of surreal humour and occasional strong language. The production features incidental music by Peter Copley for flute and cello, performed live during the show by the composer (cello) and Anne Hodgson (flute).
Monday January 31st, Tuesday 1st Feb & Wed 2nd Feb 7.30 pm
at Nuffield Theatre
University Rd
Southampton SO17
Tickets £10.
Forthcoming dates in London and elsewhere to be announced.
An LLL Production, directed by Mark Hewitt.
For further info and tickets please contact:
PO Box 2766 Lewes East Sussex BN7 2WF
Phone: +44 (0) 797 203 7612
Email: info@leweslivelit.co.uk
two ends
he won’t chance another ugly betty – she won’t be forgotten,
while polite boys give battle-axes a miss – no one will kick him out of her.
he’s in gośka more than he was then, spreading faster than loosestrife.
the beautiful joanna was easier, screamed thrice over, then wrapped
herself in a piotr or a marek, fell silent. gośka can’t, torn apart she tosses
grenades his way: you warp my dreams, feed me thistles. then lick chocolate
off the wrists of princesses. funny, she comes to him in dreams nicely enough,
sometimes a little too nicely – he fears that the most, wants to chase the uglies
from his door, letting loose all his wolves and jackals. he misses the warmth
joanna used to give, was too easy to cross off, be pleased by a tomasz or a robert.
joanna dreamt someone had made her into a mad wench. come morning,
she is longing for something.
Telling Tales
In her story there’s a forest
in fading light and in the clearing
he introduces her to some friends
who call her sweet and darling,
fondle her like heavy-pawed bears
while hunger glistens in their eyes.
He denies there was a forest ever.
Then says she lured him there.
…
read the rest of the poem by clicking here
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