in her poem ‘‘Some People Like Poetry’’ with the
poet’s more explicitly stated views as revealed in
her 1996 Nobel Prize acceptance speech. Dominic
maintains that for Szymborska, the philosophical
ideal of questioning, of valuing the quest for under-
standing over the final result of knowledge itself, is
the guiding principle exposed in ‘‘Some People
Like Poetry.’’
It is often observed that Wisl⁄awa Szymbor-
ska pursues philosophical questions of enor-
mous import in her poetry, but in a style that is
deceptive in its simplicity and in a tone that is
ostensibly conversational and light. Bogdana
Carpenter in a 1997 article inWorld Literature
Todaydescribes Szymborska’s work as ‘‘decep-
tively transparent’’ and notes that Szymborska is
concerned with ‘‘philosophical reflection.’’
Edward Hirsch devotes a chapter to Szymborska
in his 1999 bookResponsive Reading. Therein,
he, too, discusses Szymborska’s tendency to
tackle large philosophical questions or ‘‘huge
general subjects.’’ Kristine S. Santilli’s study of
Szymborska’s work focuses on the poet’s darker
themes but also notes that Szymborska’s poems
are often branded by her typical ‘‘lighthearted
touch’’ and ‘‘conversational style.’’ Her 1993
poem ‘‘Some People Like Poetry’’ is no exception
to this general characterization. In this poem,
Szymborska broaches the issues of what poetry
is and how it is actually appreciated, not in
schools or by poets but by the independently
engaged reader. Furthermore, in this work
Szymborska touches, however tangentially, on
the vast philosophical issue of epistemology, or
the study of the nature of knowledge. In the
brief analysis and commentary on the nature
of poetry and on the related issue ofknowing
that Szymborska offers in ‘‘Some People Like
Poetry,’’ she outlines a theory of poetics, a theory
more fully explicated in her 1996 Nobel accept-
ance speech. A comparison of the poem with the
speech sheds light on the poem in particular and
on the philosophical and poetic aims of Szym-
borska’s larger body of work in general.
In ‘‘Some People Like Poetry,’’ Szymborska
in the first two stanzas appears to be building an
understanding of poetics, discussing in the first
stanza who likes poetry, or how many people
may actually appreciate it, and analyzing in
the second stanza the range of possible ways
something such as poetry may be liked, enjoyed,IN THE BRIEF ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARY
ON THE NATURE OF POETRY AND ON THE RELATED
ISSUE OFKNOWINGTHAT SZYMBORSKA OFFERS
IN ‘SOME PEOPLE LIKE POETRY,’ SHE OUTLINES
A THEORY OF POETICS, A THEORY MORE
FULLY EXPLICATED IN HER 1996 NOBEL
ACCEPTANCE SPEECH.’’WHAT
DO I READ
NEXT? Monologue of a Dog, by Szymborska, was
published in 2006, presenting the original
Polish text alongside the English translation
by Clare Cavanagh and Stanisl⁄aw Baran ́c-
zak. The verses here are reflective of Szym-
borska’s characteristically accessible style
and her habit of mingling everyday observa-
tions with broad philosophical explorations.
Szymborska’sNonrequired Reading: Prose
Pieces(2002), translated by Clare Cavanagh,
contains brief essays on ninety-four works
of literature and provides insight into the
author’s own creative process and philosoph-
ical, literary, and cultural interests.
New and Collected Poems: 1931–2001,by
Czesl⁄aw Mil⁄osz, published in 2003, is a
comprehensive collection of the poetry of
Szymborska’s fellow Polish poet and Nobel
Prize winner. Szymborska and Mil⁄osz are
widely regarded as Poland’s premier poets.
Polish Writers on Writing(2007), edited by
Adam Zagajewski, is a collection of prose
essays, letters, and diary excerpts on the
topic of writing. Represented are various Pol-
ish writers, including Szymborska, Mil⁄osz,
the poet Zbigniew Herbert, and the artist
and author of short fiction Bruno Schulz.Some People Like Poetry