The Folding Cliffs: A Narrative

by W.S. Merwin

From the Pulitzer Prize-winning author and “one of the greatest poets of our age … the Thoreau of our era” (Edward Hirsch) comes a thrilling story, in verse, of nineteenth-century Hawaii.

Here is the story of an attempt by the government to seize and constrain possible victims of leprosy and the determination of one small family not to be taken. A tale of the perils and glories of their flight into the wilds of the island of Kauai, pursued by a gunboat full of soldiers.

A brilliant capturing—inspired by the poet's respect for the people of these islands—of their life, their history, the gods and goddesses of their mythic past. A somber revelation of the wrecking of their culture through the exploitative incursions of Europeans and Americans. An epic narrative that enthralls with the grandeur of its language and of its vision.

Genres: Poetry, History, Historical

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

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

[William2 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cover to cover The Folding Cliffs--an epic of Hawaiian history--is gripping. It reads like a novel in the best sense of that phrase, and moves quickly, without a lot of poetic claptrap to gum up the action. That despite the fact that it is composed in ten-to-fourteen syllable, mostly punctuation-free, enjamned lines. The central narrative seems as unlikely as it is compelling. It is the late 19th century on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. Foreigners are conspiring to seize the island chain from its lawful native rulers in what they hope will be a bloodless coup d'état. One of the colonizer's tools for effecting this change is the law governing the quarantining of lepers. Even today many still think of leprosy as a highly contagious and incurable disease, which is not true. Neither is forced quarantine and segregation of its victims necessary. In late 19th century Hawaii the disease falls conveniently into the colonizer's lily-white hands. Widely viewed as God's vengeance on the overly sensual native manner of living, the foreigners are able to use it as a way of attacking native Hawaiian social integrity. Families, communities are easily split with a simple diagnosis of leprosy. One family, however, that of Ko'olau and Pi'ilani and their son Kaliemanu, decide they will not allow themselves to be hauled off to quarantine. Instead, they go to Kalalau, a valley in northwest Kauai where others who have been diagnosed have decided to gather. Otherwise, it's off to the island of Molok'ai and the leprosarium there run by Father Damien where contact with their families is almost impossible. After Ko'olau and his family join the others, they are pursued by an ambitious fellow by the name of Stoltz, who is determined to clear the valley of them. Ko'olau--justifiably--shoots him dead. The white man, now in charge of the so-called Provisional Government in Honolulu, calls out the army. The book's set piece is the family's retreat to Kalalau, its life there, and the subsequent military incursion. The leper side of the story, in a brief overview like this, might seem off-putting. Please, don't allow yourself to be. Merwin's handling of the story is deft and compassionate. This is one of the most beautiful stories I have ever read. Emotionally, it is almost intolerably moving, to use Anthony Burgess' well-worn phrase. But not in the sense that the reader squirms. It's not like a thriller in that respect, though there is suspense. It is rather the deep emotional connection of many of the characters. There are sections that remind me of Faulkner. But not in a derivative way. Rather, Merwin is touching on the same core rhythms of the language and making it sing, as Faulkner did. The book is a marvel. How did Merwin do it? We can get a sense of many of the creative decisions he made along the way, but the final product is greater than the sum of its parts. It's a wonder of true art. Read it. It will keep you up at night, turning the pages.

[Cooper Renner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not by any means flawless, but quite a remarkable work. Narrative verse in the US in the past 50 years has mostly stunk, and this doesn't. It's quite an affecting story and quite different from Merwin's lyric poetry, though there are moments scattered throughout the "novel" which echo his lyric methods. But this is an actual story, told in an interesting and strong voice. Is it poetry? Hard to say. It's written in lines, but otherwise the rhythms are prose, and are probably in some ways indirectly inspired by the syntax of the King James Version of the Bible. The central story--the famlly lives of Hawaiians affected by leprosy and the way in which the government dealt with it (interment camps, essentially)--is heartbreaking and presents yet another instance of the lack of nobility of the US government and too many Americans in interacting with native peoples: a story that should be more widely told beyond the bounds of Hawaii.

[Sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Currently reading this epic poem about the hunting down of Hawaiians who had leprosy and escaped into the Hawaiian valleys, to be followed by colonial soldiers. I remember this story from the days as a college student in Hawaii studying history and someone recently reminded me of it - and gave me this book for Christmas. This is a beautiful work, even though I am only a few pages in. Would be an interesting choice for a class on colonialism or post colonialism.

[Christopher]

A novel in verse! And the most poetic passage on the evolution of life on oceanic islands (Hawaii) I will likely encounter. I read this on my way to Hawaii, and was totally enchanted.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

The great sadness

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful story (an epic poem) beautifully told.

[Hal · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. interesting read but ultimately just a bit difficult for me to get into

[Jon Ciliberto · Rating 1 out of 5]

No one has mentioned this review of Merwin's book:

https://kaiwakiloumoku.ksbe.edu/artic...

The author here (Kapalai‘ula de Silva, 2001) is critical of Merwin's approach to this native Hawaiian's story, one that de Silva finds sadly typical of colonial takings from indigenous cultures:

"Merwin’s commitment to truth is so weak that Folding Cliffs contains no accurate statement of his primary sources [7]: 1) Pi‘ilani Ko‘olau’s Kaluaikoolau!, published in Honolulu in 1906 by John G. M. Sheldon and available in the Archives of Hawaiʻi; 2) Helen N. Frazier’s translation of Pi‘ilani’s memoir, The True Story of Kaluaikoolau, or Ko‘olau the Leper, published in the Hawaiian Journal of History, vol. 21 (1987) and available in libraries everywhere. Merwin, in fact, seems intent on masking the existence of these publications. He maintains, in the opening sentence of his introduction to The Folding Cliffs, that: "The central events of the story all happened and the principal characters existed but the evidence for both is fragmentary and most of it second or third hand, refracted and remote [my emphasis]." In truth, undeniable evidence for the central events and characters of Merwin’s narrative can be found in the complete, first hand, richly detailed, beautifully written, and expertly translated Kaluaikoolau!"

"The colonization that Merwin describes is the colonization that Merwin commits. Despite all his efforts to disguise The Folding Cliffs as a fictional piece made necessary by the "huge gaps" in what "we positively know about these people’s lives," Merwin is guilty of manipulating for his own artistic ends, the facts, characters, purpose, and spirit of a very complete and powerful account. He distorts and recombines incidents in Pi‘ilani’s memoir to improve on their symbolic weight. He ascribes to Pi‘ilani a set of native beliefs to which Pi‘ilani gives no evidence of adhering and about which Merwin is not equipped to write. Worse, he strips from Pi‘ilani the Christian faith that she gives every indication of following, and he robs her—permanently—of confidence, triumph, and closure."

Other scholars have also ignored Merwin's opportunism and lapses, e.g.,

https://www.cairn-int.info/journal-re...

and

"But one could not call Merwin’s version stretched orloaded or ulterior." "The considerable research Merwin did for his poem shows in his rich mastery of factual material"

https://www.academia.edu/14853272/His...

[Therese L. Broderick · Rating 4 out of 5]

In January 2015, Mr. Merwin was awarded the Champion of the Land Conservation Award by HILT, the Hawaiian Islands Land Trust. I was visiting Maui during that week, and I was also reading this book,The Folding Cliffs. For me, this book is as much about the natural history of Kaua'i as it is about its political history. Mr. Merwin's portrayal of dramatic terrain, waterways & waterfalls, trees & ferns, birds & pigs & shellfish, weather zones, high caves, and burial grounds is bewitching. Everywhere I traveled in Maui, I recognized one of the natural features or creatures appearing in Mr. Merwin's poetic narrative. Indeed, given that several of his passages acknowledge the unreliability of all human stories, of all personal and institutional reporting,I infer that Nature is more trustworthy than History.

[libremilia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartbreaking story written in free form poetry set during the nineteenth century of the Hawaiian islands. Read this for my US Imperialism class, and it really was an eye opening read. Not a lot of books are written about native Hawaiians, and this one really captures the beauty of their indigenous culture and all that they lost following the European and American annexations/colonialism.

And it’s really sad, guys. It’s late and I don’t have much to say but I’ll be crying about it in class on Monday…again.

[Cone · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have enjoyed Merwin's late style for some years, but read this while on Maui. It's a narrative epic, a fictionalized account of a 19th Century tragedy on Kauai. Though fictionalized, it's based on facts, and I found it beautiful and sad. Merwin's concerns with humanity and the conservation of things, including cultures and stories, shine through. It is mythic in scope, but a great perspective on Hawaii's past.

[Urmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow...

[Erik Prime · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book-length poem, written by two-time U.S. poet laureate W.S. Merwin, is one of the most incredible works of fiction that I have ever read. While scanning the first few pages, I was so challenged by the free verse form that I considered putting the book down. However, as soon as I became accustomed to the flow of words, a whole new world opened up in my imagination.

The story takes place in the late 1800’s on the Hawaiian island of Kaua’i. It is based on the real-life accounts of Pi’ilani, a woman who escaped to the isolated Kalalau Valley with her family to avoid being sent to a leper colony on a different island. Some natives may dispute the accuracy of individual facts, but no one can deny the power and majesty of the words or the respectfulness with which it honors the spirit and traditions of the Hawaiian people.

The Kalalau Valley was the site of the first human settlement on Kaua’i. The two-mile by half-mile stretch of fertile land is cut off from the rest of the island by an imposing wall of mountains. At its peak, the valley was filled with taro fields and home to thousands of Hawaiians. In the 1960’s, it became a popular destination for hippies who wanted to live off the grid and grow marijuana. Today, its designation as a state park forbids anyone from residing there. Squatters still camp in the remote upper wilderness, despite occasional attempts by law enforcement to flush them out.

NOTE ABOUT FORMATTING: The book is divided into seven sections of forty poems each (or forty-one in one instance). The opening and closing words of each section have an interesting symmetry. The first word(s) of the first poem is the same as the title of that section, and the last word(s) of the last poem is the same as the title of the following section. The connecting strategy is an apt metaphor for the cyclical nature of human existence. These little details can make the difference between a good book and a masterpiece.

[Kirby Wright · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is somehat of a rehashing of the Jack London story found in Tales Of Hawaii. It would take a Herculean effort to turn narrative verse into a novel and, while I admire the effort, the book falls flat.

Except for Hawaiian given names, the incorporation of the native language is all but forgotten, including internal thoughts. A native doesn't think in Hawaiian but in English, including reverences to the constellations. The "rising of Pleides" is mentioned in the thoughts of a narrator but I wonder how she would have a knowledge of the stars being from Old Hawai'i. Alliteration such as "petal pleasure" seems fake deep. I would have enjoyed the book more had it been written with an authentic Hawaiian voice.

[Stephen Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A guy who has mostly written short poems, with the longest clocking in at just a few pages, suddenly pivoting to write an over-350-pages "historical novel in verse" about the history of Hawaii FORTY-SIX YEARS into his writing career has got to be one of the most jaw-dropping career shifts in the history of literature. What a staggering hail Mary pass this book would be even if it didn't work; the fact that it's one of Merwin's two or three best books makes this a triumph of unbelievable stature. What a beautiful, breathtaking book.

[Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

An epic narrative poem that reads like a novel. I am not very knowledgeable about Hawaiian history, literature or language, but I can’t imagine anyone who has even a slight interest in any of those things reading this without reward. Utterly heart wrenching and gripping.

For prospective readers: I would highly recommend anyone unfamiliar with the island of Kauaʻi (as I am) to get a good map of the island prior to starting this. I did not, and it was a mistake.

[Diana Coker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a masterpiece! Beautiful, haunting, lyrical it tells a story of Hawaii and its people through a small group of individuals who really did exist. In verse form with a stream of consciousness element, it is divided into five sections. W.S. Merwin is one of the greatest poets of all time in my book and this amazing piece of literature is an aweing achievement.

[Sheryl Branscombe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story written in verse tells the back story abouy Hawaii and some of the characters involved a little too much but when it approaches the heart of the story about the leper colony it really takes shape and becomes a very interesting read.

[Kimberly Boenig · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm just going to come out and say that this book was not for me. I spent most of this book confused and lost in the plot, which I think might be due to the poetic structure. That said, I can see how someone who is more poetically inclined than me would enjoy this.

[Peter Landau · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were times where I wanted to put this epic poem down. I couldn't keep track of the foreign names or even the guiding narrative. The words were in a language I understood and yet were so arranged as to be mysterious and incomprehensible for me. But I trudged on because it's not my habit to give up on a book, certainly not one as highly revered as this W.S. Merwin modern classic, and there were passages of beauty and insight that even managed to get through my dullard exterior. Hell, it takes place in a paradise on earth and the plot turns on the plight of lepers, like a secular retelling of Milton, only I found myself skimming the surface and never able to drop to deeper understanding. That's me. I'll take the blame. Mea culpa!

[Sheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have wanted to read this book for years. Thanks to my book club at Kapolei Public Library, it was the selection for September. I just finished it today, just in time to discuss tonight at our meeting. It was not an easy read, but I felt it was very much worth the effort. I have also just finished reading the literary commentary by Hawaiian and Kamehameha Schools graduate Kapalai'ula de Silva titled "The Literary Offences od W. S. Mervin's Folding Cliffs." It gave the reader another perspective on the book.

If you are a fan of poetry, I would not miss reading this book-but keep in mind that it is a fictionalized version of the true story of Pi'ilani and Ko'olau.

[Tommy Blacksox · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hate to call this almost a slog. Merwin's descriptions of-- well, anything-- are usually concise and beautiful and heartbreaking, and here they are the same, but not as often. You might have to get a few pages down to find the next crystalline moment of humanity and/or nature. Add to that the slow decline of many of the characters in the book due to leprosy, and the slow decline of the country of Hawai'i due to colonialism, and that balance of stoic beauty and depressing fallibility tends toward the bummer.

[Al Maki · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a fan of Merwin's writing but the combination of names I can't hold onto, leprosy and the destruction of a society by outsiders with guns keeps me from being able to continue. I've tried twice now. Maybe third time I'll make it. There's much I like. Parts of it bring back the feeling of being in a Hawai'ian forest and the second part is an amazing description of the creation of the islands.
Curious, because I've read books that describe even more hideous situations.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the perspective of a casual reader who hasn't read any books of verse except this, in the beginning it was hard to read. Give it your time and care and attention though, and you'll get the same satisfaction as hand-growing a flower and watching it blossom. Or the same satisfaction as realizing you've always been standing in a field of flowers? Its incredibly beautiful poetry, in each deliberate word, the hard realism of the characters, the epic span of what it covers.

[Mona Bomgaars · Rating 5 out of 5]

A narrative poem written about a family affected by Hansen's Disease who were able to avoid the bounty hunters prevalent during the late 1800s. This book is a keeper. It will not leave my book case. This is my second read.

[Amanda]

For MA

[Brianne]

An excellent book in prose about leprosy...very interesting.

[James Meyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's not easy to read a book with no periods, thought if it's about the colonization of Hawaii, and written in blank verse, it's immanently worth reading.

[Kerstin Lampert · Rating 4 out of 5]

A truly thought-provoking story....all I can think of is that poor Hawaiian woman lying on her dead husband's grave for a week.....ancient Hawaiian way or mourning? Wow!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

incredible story and writing in narrative prose! brilliant writing and I hope you read this! I read it so slowly because I did not want it to end and savored every page. enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!