March Forth - William Carlos Williams

On Tuesday, March 4, I will be reading poems by William Carlos Williams. I have known him primarily for his poem about the red wheelbarrow, so this will be a time to learn more about this important poet laureate of the United States. He was born on September 17, 1883 and died on March 4, 1963.  

Here is one of his poems, as I look forward to spring in these cold days.

The Tulip Bed by William Carlos Williams

The May sun—whom 


all things imitate-- 


that glues small leaves to 


the wooden trees 


shone from the sky 


through bluegauze clouds 


upon the ground. 


Under the leafy trees 


where the suburban streets 


lay crossed, 


with houses on each corner, 


tangled shadows had begun 


to join 
the roadway and the lawns. 


With excellent precision 


the tulip bed 


inside the iron fence 


upreared its gaudy 


yellow, white and red, 


rimmed round with grass, 


reposedly.

William Carlos Williams