Marian Selin

(16.05.1937)

Translated by Sabina Szymikowska

Marian Selin was born in Jastarnia. He finished a music school and the Choreography and Ballet School in Gdańsk in 1966. He worked for the Regional Community Centre in Puck and for the fishing cooperative in Władysławowo as a choreographer. In the 1960s he arranged Kashubian songs for the big-beat band Sami from Gdańsk. He is the curator of a museum in Jastarnia called the fishermen’s house.

He made his debut in Litery in 1969 with the poem Mój bôcyk.

Later, two collections of his poems were published: Kaszubski kwiat (1982) and Niech wiater niese piesń (1996). His poems were also printed in the anthologies Wiersze proste jak życie (1966), Wybór współczesnej poezji kaszubskiej (1967), Antologia współczesnej poezji ludowej (1967), Modra struna (1973) and with musical accompaniment in Tobie, Boże chwała by Reverend Jan Perszon.

The reason why Selin’s poems resemble folk songs is that he wrote with the idea that his poetry should be sung. What is more, he often composes his own music for the poems. Marian Selin is also the author of the three-act spectacle Broduzë, which was first staged in 1957. His other dramas still remain in manuscripts.

Selin is a member of a folk artists association.