That Absurd Entity, Poetry – Polish Translations of Marianne Moore’s Ars Poetica of the Moment

Abstract

This essay combining literary history and translation criticism focuses on “Poetry,” the programmatic poem by outstanding American modernist poet Marianne Moore. It draws the reader’s attention to the most important interpretative issues in the work, including the poet’s attempt to enunciate the basically “inexpressible” essence of poetry and phenomenon of its functioning. The mystery of poetry and of Moore’s poem are illustrated through a critical analysis of Polish translations by the following translators: Jarosław Mark Rymkiewicz, Jan Prokop, Julia Hartwig, Stanisław Barańczak, and Ludmiła Marjańska, which are provided in an appendix together with the original.