Ważki i Zagłada

Dragonflies and Holocaust The dragonflies occupy a special place in Jerzy Ficowski’s poetic universe. The Holocaust occupies a special place in his poetic reflection. These two dominant factors were not put together so far, but they should be after multiple readings and analyzes of the works of the author of Reading of the Ashes [Odczytanie popiołów], but also due to the new trends in the study of the history of the Holocaust. My hypothesis is, that Jerzy Ficowski has written organic history of the Holocaust long before it was taught and practiced by the Holocaust specialists. As a literary scholar, poet’s interpreter, I tried to thoroughly analyze the poems, and inform about these precursory poetic notes of the author. This anticipation is significant and perceived in the collective imaginarium. The dragonflies have been living in the world for 325 million years (they are the world’s oldest insects), humans – also the creators of Extermination and experiencing the Holocaust – initiated their own species history less than 10 million years ago. Key words: Jerzy Ficowski; dragonfly; Jewish Holocaust; Polish poetry; interspecies sensitivity