Poetry Unbound W.S. Merwin — For The Anniversary of My Death
18 snips
Jan 16, 2026 Dive into W.S. Merwin's poignant poem about confronting mortality, ingeniously crafted in just 84 words. Explore the delicate balance between life's big questions and the beauty of the present moment, from birdsong to falling rain. Discover Merwin's unique punctuation style, which leaves his words open to interpretation and reflection. Delve into his commitment to ecological conservation, drawing parallels between nature and poetry. A journey through existential themes becomes both intimate and profound, inviting listeners to embrace life's fleeting moments.
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Death Imagined As Ordinary Passage
- W.S. Merwin’s poem imagines passing the unknowable day of death each year without awareness.
- The poem holds death alongside everyday life, making silence and surprise contiguous with rain and birdsong.
Silence Through Lack Of Punctuation
- Merwin omits punctuation to leave meaning open and to invite the reader into silence.
- The poem’s ending, "bowing, not knowing to what," intentionally refuses closure and becomes a contemplative question.
Calm Facing Of Mortality
- The poem balances large existential themes with a calm absence of fear.
- Merwin’s tone is unhurried and quietly accepting even while facing mortality.