A Place of (No)Return. On the Imagination and Poetry by Jan Darowski

Abstract

The subject of this article is the interpretation of Jan Darowski’s poems which indicate the problem of the poet’s inability to return to his hometown – Brzezie nad Odrą. Although the artist symbolically closes the door to the space in which he once lived he still holds the key as if he was leaving himself an opportunity to change his decision. The poet fears that he will open spaces he does not want to enter, thus he explores key’s nature and initially tries to get rid of it. When the author fails to
forget about the key, he proves its cumbersomeness and non-functionality. The author of Drzewa sprzeczki ultimately uses it in a different way – to secure memories of his birthplace and childhood. Locking them inside by metaphorically “turning” the key, he tries to protect them – as his arcadia – from “littering”.