W.S. Merwin (1927–2019)
For the Anniversary of My Death
Every year without knowing it I have passed by the day
When the last fires will wave to me
And the silence will set out
Tireless traveler
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
The American poet William Stanley Merwin (1927–2019) published more than fifty volumes of poetry, prose, and translations. His many awards included two Pulitzer Prizes for Poetry (1971 and 2009) and a National Book Award (2005). In 2010 he was named the United States Poet Laureate. This poem can be found in The Essential W.S. Merwin, edited by Michael Wiegers (Copper Canyon Press, 2017), p. 108.
Selected by Amy Frykholm: amy@journeywithjesus.net
