| Abstract: | The book undertakes an attempt of interpretation and reinterpretation of poetry by Witold Wirpsza – one of the most outstanding poets of the XX th C. The assumption of the interpretation is complementing of former critical settlements by new, important issues describing Wirpsza`s output and the proposal of their new hierarchy. The book is composed of three main parts. In the first part of the paper entitled Wirpsza repeatedly author present the common schema of perception of this poetry. The second part of the book includes interpretations of the poetic works by Witold Wirpsza: Traktat polemiczny (Polemical Treatise), Komentarze do fotografii The Family of Man (Commentaries on Photos The Family of Man), Traktat skłamany (Lied Treatise), Faeton (Faeton), Nowy podręcznik wydajnego zażywania narkotyków (The New Handbook efficient use of drugs ), Sens Fortynbrasa (The Sense of Fortinbras), Samobójcom (To the Suicides), Melancolia I (Melancholy I), Liturgia (Liturgy). The last part of the book refers to Witold Wirpsza`s essay Polaku, kim jesteś? (Pole, Who Are You?) which is a multidimensional cultural analysis of the phenomenon of Polishness, showing the origins and results of national myths. Forty years after the book`s publication the question posed in the title continues to provoke discussions, despite different political and economic conditions, |