Thrush at Dusk: Poetry Night 2026

Welcome to the Dark Night of Poetry!

Crime, violence, death, guilt and mystery — these are themes that have been recurring in poetry for centuries. “Drozd o zmroku” is an evening dedicated to “crime poetry”, during which poems will be sung by poets tackling these topics in different ways — from romantic ballads and poetic horror to contemporary texts inspired by documents, testimonies and real events. The title of the event refers to Thomas Hardy's poem “The Darkling Thrush”, known in translation by Stanisław Barańczak as “Thrush at Dusk”.

The works will be presented in the form of a performative reading by actor Marcin Kalisz (Nowy Proxima Theater). The performances will be accompanied by improvised music on bass clarinet by Aleksander Fiałek — a Cracow musician, jazzman and actor. Zofia Hartman, cultural scientist, writer and cultural manager, will talk about the poets presented, their works and the contexts of their creation. Poetry and music will meet in the Art Bunker space, creating an evening dedicated to the dark and ambiguous sides of the human experience.

Free admission! Organizer: City of Literature FoundationThe event will take place as part of Poetry Night. Co-financed by the City of Krakow.