CHWILA I WIECZNOŚĆ W POEZJI JANA TWARDOWSKIEGO
A moment and the eternity in the poetry of Jan Twardowski

Summary/Abstract: The aim of this paper is to present interpretations of two poems by Jan Twardowski, entitled przepiórka [a quail] and wiecznooeæ [eternity]. The interpretations focus on the conceptualization of two opposite TIME categories, MOMENT and ETERNITY. In przepiórka, the poet describes two important moments in the life of a human being, the moment of birth and the moment of death. The moment of birth (the metaphorical east), occurring early, is white and light, whereas death comes at twilight (late) and it is dark. However, both moments are characterized as nude, sincere and pure. The uncovering of the axiological load in the description of these two moments plays a crucial role in the interpretation of the poem. In the poem wiecznooeæ, two lines are repeated three times: eternity was with us all the time / and it [only] seemed to us. These two lines provide the key to interpretation of the poem. The time spent on earth is viewed from the psychological perspective of human beings subjectively experiencing the passing of time. It seems to them that they have too little time and that they waste it. The constant presence of eternity means that God accompanies them. Although the two poems focus on opposite time categories, they convey a common message: everything human beings experience depends on God’s will.

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