Antoni Pepliński

(1918-1995)

translated by Sabina Szymikowska

Antoni Pepliński was born in Wielki Klińcz in 1918. As a young boy, he lived in Lyśniewko near Sierakowice, where he attended primary school. In 1931 to 1939 he learnt at gimnasium in Kościerzyna. During the Second World War he worked on his parents’ farm. After the war, Pepliński studied theology in Pelplin and in 1951 he took holy orders. He served as a curate in Pawłowo near Chojnice and from 1959 as a parish priest in Czarnowo near Toruń.

He made his debut in Chëcz in 1946. His poems were printed in Kaszëbë and Pomerania

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Most of his poems still remain in manuscripts. Some of them were published in the anthologies Ma jesma òd mòrza (1963), Wybór współczesnej poezji kaszubskiej (1967), Kaschubische Anthologie (1973), Modra struna (1973).

His own collection of poems came under the title Niech szëmi las in 1973.

Antoni Pepliński was also a composer and his songs have been adapted by Kashubian folk groups. His compositions, 131 songs, were collected in Mòje spiéwë.

He set up a singing circle, later called Di-dana, performing in Kashubia and abroad. Antoni Pepliński is the author of Kashubian Christmas carols and the Kashubian Christmas play Kaszëbsczé jasełka (1987). In 1988 he published the collection of Kashubian songs Kaszëbë wòłają nas. His only works in the Polish language are dramas.