William Williams
William Williams
good poem understand
I wanted to write a poem that you would understand. For what good is it to me if you can't understand it?
crowd
It is summer, it is the solsticethe crowd ischeering, the crowd is laughingin detailpermanently, seriouslywithout thought.
crowd detail laughing seriously
It is summer, it is the solstice the crowd is cheering, the crowd is laughing in detail permanently, seriously without thought.
facts human intense value vision
The only human value of anything, writing included, is intense vision of the facts.
race
We are a half-mad race, and what we say is not to be trusted.
deep odor passing rank
With what deep thirstwe quicken our desiresto that rank odor of a passing springtime!
almost belief define fact hold impossible state
It is almost impossible to state what one in fact believes, because it is almost impossible to hold a belief and to define it at the same time.
change discovered exploded forms language living meanings poems thus
Times change and forms and their meanings alter. Thus new poems are necessary. Their forms must be discovered in the living language of their day, or old forms, embodying exploded concepts, will tyrannize over the imagination.
prepared sleeping sure thus wise
Thus having prepared their budsagainst a sure winterthe wise treesstand sleeping in the cold.
against buds prepared sleeping stand sure thus trees winter wise
Thus having prepared their buds against a sure winter the wise trees stand sleeping in the cold.
amount ask continued equal frequently interest late medicine nearly reply
When they ask me, as of late they frequently do, how I have for so many years continued an equal interest in medicine and the poem, I reply that they amount for me to nearly the same thing.
force pig sullen
You sullen pig of a manyou force me into the mudwith your stinking ash-cart!
gently
You slapped my faceOh but so gently I smiledAt the caress.
face gently oh smiled
You slapped my face Oh but so gently I smiled At the caress.