Julian Tuwim (from Hebrew טובים tovim, meaning "good") (September 13, 1894 – December 27, 1953) was a Polish poet of Jewish descent; born in the city of Łódź in Poland, educated in Łódź and Warsaw (studied Law and Philosophy at Warsaw University). Co-founder and leader of the Skamander group of experimental poets with Antoni Słonimski and Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz in 1919. He was a major figure in Polish literature, mostly known for his contribution to children's literature.

Initially Tuwim’s poetry—like that of other Skamandrites—was a decisive break-up with the turn-of-the-century’s mannerism and decadent language. It also was an expression of vitality, optimism, and praise of urban life; introduction of everyday life in a city, with its triviality and vulgarism, to poetry. In his poems Tuwim often used “regular” language as well as dialogue. Characteristic for this period are collections Czyhanie na Boga for God (1918), Sokrates tańczący Socrates (1920), Siódma jesień Seventh Autumn (1922), and Wierszy tom czwarty the Volume Four (1923).

In his later collections of poetry: Słowa we krwi Bathed in Blood (1926), Rzecz Czarnoleska Czarnolas Matter (1929), Biblia cygańska Bible (1933) and Treść gorejąca Content (1933); Tuwim becomes considerably restless and bitter, he writes with fervor and violence of the emptiness of urban existence. He also tends to draw more from traditions of romantism and classicism, at the same time perfecting form and style, becoming virtuoso of words and language.

Since the very beginning and throughout his entire creative life Tuwim was satirically inclined. He supplied sketches and monologues to numerous cabarets. In his poetry and as a columnist he scoffed obscurantism and bureaucracy as well as militaristic and nationalistic trends in politics. Burlesque Bal w operze in the Opera House, written in 1936, is considered his best satiric poem.

In 1918 Tuwim co-founded cabaret Picador and cooperated as writer or artistic director with many other cabarets like Czarny kot Cat 1917–1919, Qui pro Quo 1919–1932, Banda and Stara Banda 1932–1935 and finally Cyrulik Warszawski of Warsaw 1935–1939. Since 1924 Tuwim was staff writer of Wiadomości Literackie News where he wrote weekly column Camera Obscura as well as for satiric magazines: Cyrulik Warszawski of Warsaw and Szpilki [Pins" target="_blank" >^*.

“There would be no Polish literature without Mickiewicz, there would be no Mickiewicz without Pan Tadeusz* and there would be no Pan Tadeusz without Jankiel* — hurray for Tuwim!”

To which Tuwim replies:

“There would be no Polish literature without Mickiewicz, there would be no Mickiewicz without Pan Tadeusz, nor Pan Tadeusz without Jankiel. And there would be no Jankiel without dulcimers* — hurray for Nowaczyński!”

Pan Tadeusz — a 1834 epic poem by Adam Mickiewicz about Polish gentry in Lithuania during Napoleonic War
Jankiel — Jewish innkeeper and musician playing on dulcimer in Pan Tadeusz
dulcimers — in Polish, the name of musical instrument cymbały is a plural form of cymbał, which means, somewhat humorously but not vulgarly, a stupid person.