“Certain words now in our knowledge we will not use again, and we will never forget them. We need them. Like the back of the picture.” NeedsUseCertainForgetNever Forget Author:W. S. Merwin
“I think there's a kind of desperate hope built into poetry that one really wants, hopelessly, to save the world. One is trying to say everything that can be said for the things that one loves while there's still time.” ThinkingWorldWantTryingKindSaidStillsBuiltDesperateOne LoveSave The World Author:W. S. Merwin
“This is what I have heard at last the wind in December lashing the old trees with rain unseen rain racing along the tiles under the moon wind rising and falling wind with many clouds trees in the night wind.” LastsNightFallHeardAirTreeWindMoonRainCloudsRisingRacingUnseenDecemberTilesOld Trees Author:W. S. Merwin
“I have been younger in October than in all the months of spring.” Has BeensMonthsSpringOctober Author:W. S. Merwin
“When a poem is really finished, you can't change anything. You can't move words around. You can't say, 'In other words, you mean.' No, that's not it. There are no other words in which you mean it. This is it.” MeanMovingFinishedCan't Change Author:W. S. Merwin
“I say to my breath once again, little breath come from in front of me, go away behind me, row me quietly now, as far as you can, for I am an abyss that I am trying to cross.” TryingLittlesBehindsFrontsCrossesBreathsGoing AwayAbyss Author:W. S. Merwin
“I needed my mistakes in their order to get me here” OrderMistakeNeededMy Mistakes Author:W. S. Merwin
“I will take with me the emptiness of my hands. What you do not have you find everywhere” HandsEmptiness Author:W. S. Merwin
