Edward Hirsch: Czesław Miłosz Confirmed My Path in Poetry

American poet Edward Hirsch describes his profound connection to the work of Nobel laureate Czesław Miłosz, an encounter that began serendipitously in the early 1970s. While spending a year in Europe, Hirsch discovered Miłosz's "Selected Poems" in English, which he brought with him to Warsaw as a guide.

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Miłosz is one of the most important poets of the 20th century.

"Miłosz is one of the most important poets of the 20th century," Hirsch stated. He found Miłosz's poetry to be a powerful antidote to the American modernist poetry he was immersed in, which he felt was "too cold, too distant." Miłosz's work, in contrast, offered "a lot of gravitas, was written seriously, but also had warmth," Hirsch explained. This collection became a crucial entry point into Polish poetry for him.

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I needed something that had a lot of gravitas, was written seriously, but also had warmth.

Hirsch's engagement with Miłosz's work extended beyond poetry. Upon returning to the United States, he delved into Miłosz's "The History of Polish Literature." This deepened his understanding and appreciation, eventually leading him to discover other significant Polish poets through Miłosz's perspective, most notably Zbigniew Herbert.

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His poems were a door leading to Polish poetry.

Later, Hirsch played a role in bringing Adam Zagajewski, another prominent Polish poet, to teach at the University of Houston. This initiative stemmed from Hirsch's admiration for Zagajewski's "Selected Poems," which featured an introduction by Miłosz. Hirsch's personal and professional life became intertwined with Polish literature, largely initiated by his formative experience with Miłosz's profound and resonant verse.

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The most important thing for me then was that thanks to him I got to know the poetry of Zbigniew Herbert.