Wislawa Szymborska

"Wisława Szymborska was a Polish poet and essayist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1996. Born on July 2, 1923, in Kórnik, Poland. She is widely regarded as one of the greatest literary figures of the twentieth century. Her poetry is characterized by its wit, irony and deft examination of human nature. She published her first poem in March 1945 in a daily newspaper. Her first volume of poetry 'That's What We Live For' was published in 1952. Over the years she developed a unique style that combined simplicity with depth of insight. Szymborska's work often dealt with philosophical issues including love, death and the passage of time. She had an uncanny ability to infuse everyday scenarios with profound meaning leading to universal appeal for her work across diverse audiences globally. She was known for her modesty and reclusive nature avoiding public attention despite her literary fame. In addition to her poetry collections like 'Calling Out to Yeti', 'Salt', 'The People on the Bridge', 'View with a Grain of Sand', 'Nothing Twice', 'Here', and 'Map: Collected and Last Poems', she also wrote essays, reviews and translations. She received many honors and awards for her work, including the Goethe Prize, the Herder Prize, the Polish PEN Club Prize and the Order of the White Eagle. She died of lung cancer on February 1, 2012, in Kraków, Poland. She was buried at the Rakowicki Cemetery in Kraków. Her poems have been translated into many languages and continue to inspire readers around the world."