Franciszek Karpiński (1741-1825) was one of the most eminent poets of the Polish Enlightenment, referred to as the 'poet of the heart' and the 'lover of Justyna'. The second term refers to the title of one of his most famous poems, 'Do Justyny. Longing for Spring', as well as the poet's three unhappy loves - Marianna Brosell, Marianna Ponińska and Franciszka Koziebrodzka - referred to as poetic Justynes.

Karpiński's work, full of emotion and feeling, introduced the sentimentalist current into Polish literature. Among Karpiński's best-known works are religious songs, such as 'Kiedy ranne wstają zorze' and the carol 'Bóg się rodzi', which are still alive in Polish tradition.

Last years and place of burial

The poet died on 16 September 1825 in Chorowszczyzna, in what is now Belarus. He purchased this village in 1818 for 100,000 zlotys and spent the last years of his life there. He was buried in the cemetery at the Holy Trinity Missionary Church in Łysków, about 4 kilometres from Chorowszczyzna. He was friends with the parish priest of this parish, who later wrote his first biography. For many years his grave was neglected and partly forgotten.

Tomb

The poet's tomb has a form reminiscent of a cottage, which is typical of other cemeteries in Lithuania and Belarus, including those in the Bernardine Cemetery and Na Rossie in Vilnius. It is often mentioned in the literature that its appearance was allegedly inspired by a country cottage. The tombstone originally featured a rectangular stone plaque, placed in a niche, with an inscription which, according to the iconography, may have read: "Behold, my / poor house" or "Well, my poor house", which was a reference to the words from the elegy "Powrót z Warszawy na wieś". The poet himself asked for such an inscription in his last will, and also indicated the place of his burial - by the path leading to the church. This inscription, metaphorically referring to the body's final resting place, undoubtedly accentuates modesty.

The inscription on the gravestone

The tombstone features a play on words characteristic of tombstone inscriptions in Poland at the time - the acronym D.O.M. (Domus Omnium Mortuorum), or 'house of all the dead', often written as 'house' and woven into the text of Polish sentences. The wording of the original inscription is a separate issue. As mentioned, its content "Behold my / poor house" can be read from a sketch of the tombstone by Wróblewski published in the "Tygodnik Ilustrowanym" in 1907. However, the reliability of this drawing in terms of detail is questionable. The lettering - both the shape and size of the letters - certainly does not match the original. The size of the plaque is also questionable. In Napoleon Orda's earlier watercolour of 1877, the plaque is considerably smaller and the lettering is not legible. There is, however, a drawing of the inscription on the watercolour: "Well my poor house / + 1825. 4 September - lived 84. Grave of Fr. Karpiński Łysków", which may be the original inscription or close to it. There is, however, no basis for unequivocally resolving the content of the original inscription. Although the version with a paraphrased quotation seems less likely, it is not impossible.

It is not known exactly when the tomb was built and who founded it. It probably took place between 1826 and 1830, and Karpiński's nephew, who lived in Chorowszczyzna with his family, and the local parish priest, a friend of the poet, were probably involved in its erection. However, we cannot say whether they consciously paraphrased the poet's words or whether the content of the inscription was in accordance with his wishes.

Renovations and changes

The tombstone was renovated in 1925 on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Franciszek Karpiński's death. Probably at that time, the cross on top of the tomb was changed - it was originally metal and placed on a globe. However, the 1925 photograph shows a new concrete cross without decoration. The slab with the inscription plaque was also changed from horizontal - as we know it from earlier iconography - to vertical. Unfortunately, it is not possible to read the inscription on the surviving photograph. During the restoration, the gravestone was covered with corrugated eternit panels. In addition to planting vegetation, the tomb was surrounded by concrete posts connected by chains, visible in the photograph.

In the third volume of the book authored by Vytautas Kapryza, titled "The Volkovysk Region. "The Land of Volkovysk", the author states that the inscription on the monument read "Behold my poor house". The author also presents his own drawing of the tomb, but the year it was made is not known. What can be seen, however, is the content of the inscription probably placed on the plaque in the rectangular niche: "Well, my / poor house / Franciszek Karpiński / lived 84 years". This content probably refers to the wording of 1925. However, it is quite close to Napoleon Orda's notes, suggesting that the original inscription may have sounded similar and was repeated on the presumably new plaque. Omitting the name of the person buried - as is the case in Wróblewski's drawing - is rare, even when it can be assumed that everyone knows whose gravestone it is.

Restoration after the Second World War

The second important but not very precise piece of information cited by Kapryza is that "after World War II, on the initiative of a countryman living in Warsaw, Stefan Wasiukiewicz, the monument was renovated". The tomb deteriorated and was partly forgotten after World War II. It was only in the early 1990s, thanks to the support of the Kosciuszko Foundation, that the tombstone was renovated by specialists from the PZL Wola Mechanical Works. This work was initiated by Stefan Wasiukiewicz. At that time, a new plaque was added by the sculptor Eugeniusz Kozak from Warsaw. The shape of the plaque was also changed. The new plaque contains a low-relief portrait of the poet based on a graphic original, which, despite the simplification of its form, emphasises the poet's characteristic facial features and long hair falling to his shoulders. Below the portrait is an inscription:

Behold my poor house ... / Franciszek Karpiński / 1741-1825 / Poet / Creator of the songbooks "Laura and Filon", / Songs "When the morning rises", / "All our daily affairs", / "God is born..." //.

Ongoing care of the tomb is also exercised. Among its caretakers is Alina Jaroszewicz, the headmistress of the I. Domeyko Polish Social School in Brest, who is also the long-standing president of the Brest regional branch of the Union of Poles in Belarus. The work was also supported on an ad hoc basis by local Poles and groups of young people visiting from Poland.

Commemoration of Franciszek Karpiński in Holoskovo (Ukraine)

Two plaques commemorating the poet were placed in Holoskovo in Ukraine, the poet's birthplace. The first one on the façade of the church, informing that Franciszek Karpiński was born in this village - 'Tum się rodził tu mnie ojciec stary uczczył virtu polskich chrystusowej wiary Franciszek Karpiński', the second one in the interior of the temple with the inscription:

TO THE GLORY OF THE PREVIOUS AND TO THE TRUE MEMORY OF GOD'S SINGER / FRANCISZKA KARPIŃSKI / 4.X.1741 in HOŁOSKOWIE, †4.IX.1825 in LYSKOWIE, LITHUANIA / erected, from the contributions of the Compatriots, on the site of the manor donated by BRONISŁAW DOBROWOLSKI. / Priest P. JASTRZĘBSKI, A. BOBROWNICKI, owner of the estate. / W ŁYSAKOWSKI leaseholder of the estates. F. PIĘCHOWSKI rotmistrz, M. SŁUŻEWSKI, imperial counsellor / and the hosts from HOŁOSKOWA: M. KIJOWSKI, J. RABICKI, M. TUTAK. / When the morning light rises / To you the earth, to you the sea / To you all the elements sing, / Be praised God the Great. //.

Today in Holoskovo there is a monument in the form of a boulder with a cast-iron plaque commemorating the poet.

Summary

Franciszek Karpinski, the "poet of the heart" and "Justyna's lover", left a lasting mark in Polish literature and tradition. The tomb commemorating him, although neglected for a long time, has been restored and is being cared for, constituting an important element of cultural heritage.