Jan Jakub Twardowski (June 1, 1915 – January 18, 2006) was a Polish poet, but, as he said of himself, he was a priest (of the Catholic Church) first of all. He was a chief Polish representative of contemporary religious lyrics. He wrote short, simple poems, humorous, sometimes with colloquialisms. He joins observation of nature with philosophical reflexion.

Twardowski received many awards and medals for his output.

Jan Twardowski was born on June 1, 1915 in Warsaw, Congress Poland, Russian Empire as a son of Jan Twardowski and Aniela Maria Konderska. Several weeks later his family was forced to move to Russia (it was World War I). After 3 years the family moved back to Warsaw. In 1927, after finishing a primary school, he started his education in mathematical and environmental gymnasium. He finished it in 1935.

In 1932 he began working with the gymnasium youth newspaper called Kuźnia Młodych. He had his own column there, he wrote poems, short stories, interviews with writers, etc.

After the gymnasium he began studying literature at the Józef Piłsudski University (University of Warsaw). In 1937 he published his first poem book.

In World War II he took part in underground movement of the Armia Krajowa and fought in the Warsaw Uprising.

After the war he joined a seminary and began studying theology at the Warsaw University. He became a priest in 1948. In 1959 he became a provost in the Visitationist Church. He was published in popular Polish magazine, Tygodnik Powszechny. He gained fame in 1960 after publication of his first book of poetry, Znak ufności. In 1980 he received the PEN Club Robert Graves award for life's work, in 1996 Order Uśmiechu (Order of Smile), in 2000 IKAR prize, and in 2001 the TOTUS prize (known as the 'Catholic Nobel').

Jan Twardowski died on January 18, 2006 in Warsaw. He was buried in Crypt for honoured, Sanctuary of God Providence, although his last request was to be buried at Warsaw Powązki.

Works

Poetry:

• 1959: Wiersze, ("Verses"); Warsaw
• 1970: Znaki ufności, ("Signs of Trust"), Kraków: Znak
• 1980: Niebieskie okulary, ("Blue Sunglasses"), Kraków: Znak
• 1983: Który stwarzasz jagody ("Who Made the Blueberry"), Kraków: Wydawnictwo literackie
• 1986: Nie przyszedłem pana nawracać. Wiersze z lat 1937-1985 "I Have Not Come to Convert You: Poems From the Years 1937-1985"), Warsaw: Wydawnictwo Archidiecezji Warszawskiej ("Warsaw Archdiocese Publisher")
• 1990: Tak ludzka ("So Human"), Poznań: Księgarnia św. Wojciech
• 1991: Uśmiech Pana Boga. Wiersze dla dzieci ("The Smile of God. Poems for children"), Warsaw: Nasza Księgarnia
• 1993: Kasztan dla milionera. Wiersze dla dzieci ("A Chestnut For a Millionaire. Poems for Children"), Warsaw: Nasza Księgarnia
• 1993: Krzyżyk na drogę ("Roadside Cross"), Kraków: Znak
• 1996: Rwane prosto z krzakatorn ("Torn Right Off the Bush"), Warsaw: PIW
• 1998: Bóg prosi o miłość - Gott fleht um Liebe ("God Asks for Love"), Kraków: Wydawnictwo Literary
• 1998: Niebo w dobrym humorze ("Heaven in Good Mood"), Warsaw: PIW
• 1999: Miłość miłości szuka, Volumes 1 and 2 ("Love Seeks Love"), Warsaw: PIW, Księgarnia i Drukarnia Świętego Wojciecha
• 2000: Elementarz księdza Twardowskiego dla najmłodszego, średniaka i starszego, Kraków: Wydawnictwo literackie
• 2001: Kiedy mówisz ("When You Say"), Kraków: Wydawnictwo literackie
• 2006: Kilka myśli o cierpieniu, przemijaniu i odejściu, Poznan: Księgarnia Św. Wojciecha ("Church Bookstore")

Prose:

• 1973: Zeszyt w kratkę ("The Graph-Paper Notebook"), Kraków: Znak
• 1986: Nowy zeszyt w kratkę ("The New Graph-Paper Notebook"), Poznan: Pallotinum
• 1987: Patyki i patyczki ("Sticks and Twigs"), Warsaw: Wydawnictwo Archidiecezji Warszawskiej "Publisher of the Archdiocese of Warsaw"
• 1991: Niecodziennik ("Not Quite a Diary"), Kraków: Maszachaba