“there’s certainly enough pain (…) but not enough poetry:” Halina Poświatowska’s autothematic poems

Abstract

The interpretation of the poem [I cannot be merely a human] from the collection Oda do dłoni [Ode to hands] allows the author to reflect on Halina Poświatowska’s poetry. Contrary to stereotypical readings, Poświatowska’s poetry is characterized not only by emotionality but also by strong intellectualization and meta-reflexivity. Poświatowska’s selected poems are analyzed with a view to explaining how the poetess skillfully constructs emotions and makes use of the poetic possibilities of language, paying particular attention to form. Autothematicism is for Poświatowska a language that allows her to tell and authenticate her autobiographical story through writing. The textualization of the body and the somatization of words strengthen the psychosomatic presence of the I.