Our new US Poet Laureate: MS Werwin

MS Merwin is one my poet heroes. The US Library of Congress got it right this year by appointing Merwin as Poet Laureate. At 82 years old, he is still going strong as a literary giant and we are all much better off because of it. Merwin's prosy, stream of consciousness style is the style of poetry that I most identify with, and he is the master of it. Here's a sample of one of his best.

For The Anniversary Of My Death by W. S. Merwin

Every year without knowing it I have passed the day
When the last fires will wave to me
And the silence will set out
Tireless traveller
Like the beam of a lightless star

Then I will no longer
Find myself in life as in a strange garment
Surprised at the earth
And the love of one woman
And the shamelessness of men
As today writing after three days of rain
Hearing the wren sing and the falling cease
And bowing not knowing to what