After the 20th Congress of the CPSU, a group of young poets formed round th
e Czech journal Kveten, in the name of 'poetry of everyday life.' In contra
st to the impersonal official formulae, they introduced new themes and, in
particular, individual styles and attitudes towards life, a language approa
ching natural colloquialisms, and sought the deeper meaning behind simple s
ituations. This regenerated poetry, however, remained somewhat under the in
fluence of stereotypes that had already been overcome, including the optimi
stic visions of socialism. For that, the representative poets of the groups
were soon, rightly, criticized; but now, many years later, it turns out th
at their verse was important not only for the development of poetry but als
o for having provided lasting artistic inspiration.