Asian figures

by W.S. Merwin

Book by Merwin, W. S

Genres: Poetry

99 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1973

About the author

William Stanley Merwin was an American poet, credited with over fifty books of poetry, translation and prose.

William Stanley Merwin (September 30, 1927 – March 15, 2019) was an American poet who wrote more than fifty books of poetry and prose, and produced many works in translation. During the 1960s anti-war movement, Merwin's unique craft was thematically characterized by indirect, unpunctuated narration. In the 1980s and 1990s, his writing influence derived from an interest in Buddhist philosophy and deep ecology. Residing in a rural part of Maui, Hawaii, he wrote prolifically and was dedicated to the restoration of the island's rainforests.

Merwin received many honors, including the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1971 and 2009; the National Book Award for Poetry in 2005, and the Tanning Prize—one of the highest honors bestowed by the Academy of American Poets—as well as the Golden Wreath of the Struga Poetry Evenings. In 2010, the Library of Congress named him the 17th United States Poet Laureate.

Reviews

[Mills College Library]

811.54 M576a 1973

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Malayan Figures' from W.S. Merwin's literal renderings
https://archive.org/stream/asianfigur...

Slow splashing splashing
wakes me
and I cling to the wet pillow

Stepping on a long thorn
to me the sight of her hair

Little lights in the orchard
and she is hung with pieces of glass
and I am near death because she looked at me

Why do you pretend to light the empty lantern
why do you pretend
that there is a flame in you

I thought my soul was dead
and you found it was a box of sweet basil

Some wear bracelets on their wrists
I wear them on my ankles
and go my own way in love

I see a wind far away in flags
my heart is not patient
sick with waiting

The deer lies for a long time with a broken leg
and nobody finds it
the whole mountain's been on fire for seven
years
and you've just noticed

[Orion · Rating 4 out of 5]

A titilating translation of direct interpretations in English from Korean, Chinese, Japanes, Laosian, Filipino, and Balinese. The succinct parables starkly translated are delicious on the tongue.

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

While not a Merwin fan (generally) I do love adages and aphorisms.