Juliusz Erazm Bolek – “Abracadabra” Returns 2025

WARSAW: On Thursday, March 20, 2025—the eve of World Poetry Day, established by UNESCO—an author’s evening will take place at the Wieża Gallery in Warsaw’s Ursynów district, featuring poet Juliusz Erazm Bolek as the guest of honor. The gallery is currently exhibiting the poet’s poster art collection titled The Tower of Poetry. Juliusz Erazm Bolek is one of the recipients of the World Poetry Day Award established by UNESCO.

Author’s Evening at Wieża Gallery

The meeting at the Wieża Gallery will be dedicated to Juliusz Erazm Bolek’s book Abracadabra, which was published exactly 15 years ago as a World Poetry Day Award under the auspices of UNESCO. The premiere of the book took place in 2010 at the Warsaw Bookstore Club (Klub Księgarza). The poems, in both Polish and English, were presented by the distinguished actor Krzysztof Gosztyła, while the book Abracadabra was introduced by Jarosław Klejnocki—literary critic, poet, and then-Director of the Adam Mickiewicz Museum of Literature in Warsaw. The evening was hosted by Professor Karol Samsel, with musical accompaniment by Juliusz Rogulski.

What is the book Abracadabra?

Abracadabra is considered one of Juliusz Erazm Bolek’s best and most significant works. It was published by the now-defunct IBiS Publishing House in two bilingual editions: Polish-English (translated by Anita and Andrew Fincham) and Polish-Russian (translated by Vera Vinogorova). The print run was unusually high for a volume of poetry—3,000 copies. Its black cover stands out, as such color is rarely used for book jackets. The eye is also drawn to the unique arrangement of the letters forming the word Abracadabra. The book features beautiful illustrations by Maciej Dworak.

What does the word “abracadabra” mean?

“Abracadabra” likely originates from Aramaic and has been used since antiquity as a magical incantation. It was believed to hold the power to influence reality. Is Abracadabra by Juliusz Erazm Bolek a book of spells? Reading it, one could say it’s a magical book. Its content draws on magical realism—an artistic tendency that, in the 20th century, inspired creators such as Mikhail Bulgakov, Julio Cortázar, Gabriel García Márquez, Günter Grass, Salman Rushdie, Patrick Süskind, Carlos Fuentes, and Milan Kundera. Bolek fits naturally within this tradition. His poems can seem highly rational, with a sober view of the world, yet they often reveal a mysterious dimension.

What poems are included in Abracadabra?

The poems in Abracadabra occasionally introduce fantastic, puzzling, or simply poetic events. Although reality appears to be thoroughly examined, it remains—on some level—a mystery, often unnamed. In such an unexplained world, Bolek guides the curious reader with philosophical reflection and humor. His writing confirms him to be an excellent guide to a reality that can, quite unexpectedly, turn magical.

What are the best poems in Abracadabra?

Abracadabra contains several dozen poems by Juliusz Erazm Bolek, grouped into four chapters: Before, A Demand for Air, Squaring the Circle, and Confirmation of a Miracle. All the poems reflect the poet’s craftsmanship and literary mastery. The most frequently quoted pieces include the unsettling „The Devil”, the depressive „Alone with Myself”, the existential „Now Here”, the exceptional and stunning „Neon Lights”, the magical „Gold Vein” and „The Old House”, the philosophical „Squaring the Circle”, the romantic „Bear Paws”, the beautiful „Cats”, the nostalgic „Desert”, the erotic „Birches”, and the surreal „Dali”.

One particularly popular piece is „You Come at Night”, which has been performed as a song. The poem „I” has served as the basis for a monodrama and the theatrical performance titled I/We (JaMy).

**When and Where Will the Event Dedicated to the Book Abracadabra Take Place?**

The event “Abracadabra – 15 Years!” will take place on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at 6:00 p.m., at the Wieża Gallery, located at the Church of the Ascension of the Lord, Al. Komisji Edukacji Narodowej 101, in Warsaw.

The program will feature appearances by:
Krzysztof Gosztyła, Wiesław Bołtryk, Maciej Dworak, Luiza Kwiatkowska, and the band MelluSya (Vlasta Traczyk, Kaja Mianowana, Kinga Kłoczko, Adam Wardziak, and Karol Krasiński). The event will be hosted by Marta Berowska.

During the evening, guests will also be able to view the exhibition of poetic posters titled The Tower of Poetry by Juliusz Erazm Bolek. The exhibition’s curator is Maria Wollenberg–Kluza.

This event marks the beginning of the celebrations for the 45th anniversary of Juliusz Erazm Bolek’s creative work. The exhibition will be open to the public until April 7, 2025.

Who Is Juliusz Erazm Bolek?

Juliusz Erazm Bolek is a poet, prose writer, columnist, and author of theatrical works. His poetry spans themes of love, philosophy, reflection, and satire. He has published several volumes of poetry, and his works are featured in various anthologies and literary almanacs.

His most prominent books include:
Private Threat, Shortcuts to Madness, Heart of Lightning, Ars Poetica, Secrets of Life, Staccato, Sens-or, Abracadabra, Corrida, The Garden; poster albums Oh! My Earth and Images from Words; and visual poetry collections Letters and Symbols and Concrete Words.

Is Juliusz Erazm Bolek an Experimentalist?

Yes—Juliusz Erazm Bolek is known for his unconventional methods of presenting poetry, such as poetic posters, poems printed on napkins and stickers, sound and light shows, poems displayed at public transit stops, and laser-projected poetry.

One edition of his book Secrets of Life. A Poetic Calendar broke the Guinness World Record for the largest volume of poetry ever published.

He is the creator of new literary genres, including the dialogue poem and EFP – e-mail poetic columns. He also invented and patented a new book format called the bodybook, which can be worn around the neck.

Bolek is interested not only in the meaning and essence of words but also in formal literary innovations—for example, in his short story Serpentine, written entirely in the second person singular.

What Does Juliusz Erazm Bolek Do?

Since 1986, Juliusz Erazm Bolek has been running the independent artistic magazine Enigma. People * Art * Thought.

Two documentary films have been made about him:

Wlepkarz directed by Zbigniew Kowalewski
The Poet by Piotr Kulisiewicz

What Awards Has Juliusz Erazm Bolek Received?

Named „Author of the Year 2010” by the portal www.miastoliteratow.com
Winner of the „Golden Phoenix Quill”, the World Poetry Day Award (UNESCO), for his original work and unconventional methods of presenting poetry
“Poem of the Year” award for Corrida (2017)
In 2019, awarded the “Meritorious for Culture – Gloria Artis” medal by the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage
In 2020, received the Honorary Medal for Services to the Małopolska Region, granted by the Marshal of the Małopolskie Voivodeship
In 2022, won the “Optimist of the Year” award for Secrets of Life. A Poetic Calendar
In 2023, honored with the “Success of the Year” award and received the Order Pro Mazovia, awarded by Adam Struzik, Marshal of the Mazowieckie Voivodeship