Urszula Kozioł


Urszula Kozioł was a Polish poet and writer. She was a recipient of the Silesius Poetry Award and the Nike Award.

Life and career

Kozioł was born in Rakówka, a village in Poland on 20 June 1931. She attended high school in Zamość and graduated from the University of Wroclaw in 1953.
Her debut poetry collection was Gumowe klocki, but her second, W rytmie korzeni, is considered her breakthrough. Of her 1963 poem "Recipe for the Meat Course", translator Karen Kovacik writes that it "functions simultaneously as an ars poetica and an ironic riposte to those who believed a woman's place was in the kitchen" and "depict housework or domestic life through motifs of violence and estrangement."
Her novel Postoje pamięci focuses on Mirka, the daughter of a teacher, growing up in a small village during World War II. In his survey of Polish literature, Czesław Miłosz wrote that it was "One of the most authentic testimonies on the village".
She began editing the magazine Odra in 1968. She also wrote stage and radio dramas for adults and children.
In 2024, she was awarded Poland's most prestigious literary prize, the Nike Award, for her collection of poetry entitled Raptularz.
Kozioł died on 20 July 2025, at the age of 94.

Selected awards and honours

Poetry

Gumowe klocki W rytmie korzeni Smuga i promień Lista obecności Poezje wybrane W rytmie słońca Wybór wierszy Poezje wybrane Wybór wierszy Żalnik Dziesięć lat przed końcem wieku Postoje słowa Wielka pauza W płynnym stanie Wiersze niektóre Stany nieoczywistości Supliki Przelotem Horrendum Fuga Klangor
  • ''Ucieczki''

Prose

Postoje pamięci.Ptaki dla myśli
  • ''Noli me tangere''

Essays

Z poczekalni oraz Osobnego sny i przypowieści
  • ''Osobnego sny i przypowieści''

Drama

Gonitwy Kobieta niezależna Biało i duszno Król malowany Narada familijna Przerwany wykład Weekend Spartolino, czyli jak Rzempoła ze szwagrem Pitołą stracha przydybali Trzy Światy Podwórkowcy Psujony
  • ''Magiczne imię''