Stanisław Barańczak affirms modern civilization in his poetry. Pragmatism, efficacy in operations, medical achievements: it lets treat a human being “in a human way”, as the poet says. However, a perception of advantages of the late modernity is not unconditional at Barańczak’ s work. One can’ t forget the civilization has its darker side. The tension between an individualism and a collectivism is a mark of the paradigm of the modernity. A collectivism caused the appearance of the totalitarianism which hold a human being in a contempt. Though, an individualism origins a danger too - Barańczak writes about the loss of a metaphysical view on reality and the solitude. It’ s very difficult to judge modernity. Barańczak discusses different opinions in his poetry.