Leopold Staff (14 November 1878 in Lemberg [now Lviv, Ukraine] – 31 May 1957 in Skarżysko - Kamienna) was a Polish poet and one of the greatest artists of European modernism honored two times by honorary degrees (honoris causa). He was also nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature. Representative of classicism and symbolism in the poetry of Young Poland, an author of many philosophical poems strong influenced by the idea of the Übermensch, the ideas of the Franciscan order, and paradoxes of Christianity.

He was born in Lviv (Lemberg), Austria - Hungary and died in Skarżysko - Kamienna. Staff was highly influential in the literary life of Julian Tuwim, one of Poland's most renowned poets.

Staff's writing can be divided into three periods: Young Poland, Interwar period, and postwar Poland.

In the early 20th century, Staff became probably the most famous and influential Polish poet. He called his popularity as a retiring, soft glory. In the 1950s, he faced to blank verse close up to avant - garde. He was also the main guru for a Polish group of experimental poets named Skamander.

Some of his poetry includes The Bridge, Foundations, and Three Towns.