W. S. Merwin

Date of Birth: September 30, 1927

Zodiac Sign: Libra

Date of Death: March 15, 2019

Biography

William Stanley Merwin, known as W. S. Merwin, was an American poet celebrated for his mastery of language and his exploration of nature, spirituality, and the human condition. Born in New York City, Merwin’s early life was marked by a deep love for literature and a yearning for linguistic expression. He attended Princeton University, where he studied under notable literary figures such as R. P. Blackmur and John Berryman. Merwin’s early works were heavily influenced by classical forms and meters, but he soon evolved a distinctive voice characterized by free verse and a focus on environmental themes. Over his prolific career, he published more than fifty books of poetry, translations, and prose. Some of his most significant works include “The Lice” (1967), “The Carrier of Ladders” (1970), and “The Shadow of Sirius” (2008), the latter of which won him his second Pulitzer Prize. Merwin was not only a poet but also an activist and conservationist. He moved to Maui, Hawaii, in the late 1970s, where he dedicated himself to restoring the island’s rainforests. His commitment to the environment was paralleled by his literary efforts, and he became Poet Laureate of the United States in 2010.

5 Interesting Facts about W. S. Merwin

1. W. S. Merwin won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry twice, first in 1971 for “The Carrier of Ladders” and again in 2009 for “The Shadow of Sirius.”

2. He was awarded the Tanning Prize, one of the highest honors given by the Academy of American Poets, in 1994.

3. Merwin was an accomplished translator and translated works from several languages, including Spanish, French, and Latin.

4. He lived in a remote part of Maui, Hawaii, where he converted a barren pineapple plantation into a lush forest, known today as the Merwin Conservancy.

5. W. S. Merwin served as the United States Poet Laureate from 2010 to 2011.