Top 100 or so Poems -- "The Red Wheelbarrow" by William Carlos Williams

William Carlos Williams is a paradox, in many ways similar to his fellow American great, Wallace Stevens, in that he was a Medical Doctor by day, world-famous poet by night (Stevens was an officer and legal counsel for The Hartford insurance company).

His simplification of scenes and social issues to bare bones word play has influenced many, including the beat generation, most notably, Allen Ginsberg.

Here is possibly his most famous poem - use the word pictures to get the scene, and hence, the importance of the poem.

Enjoy!

The Red Wheelbarrow

by William Carlos Williams


so much depends
upon

a red wheel
barrow

glazed with rain
water

beside the white
chickens.

POEM OF THE DAY -- "This Is Just to Say" by William Carlos Williams

Todays poem is from the great modernist poet William Carlos Williams, friend of the great Ezra Pound.  This is the second of our series of poets this week beginning with "W" - and this piece represents his most famous poem -- and a delightfully simple one at that!

I wonder if his wife was angry.

Enjoy!

This Is Just To Say

by William Carlos Williams


I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox

and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast

Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold

-

POEM OF THE DAY "Spring and All" by William Carlos Williams

Spring And All

by William Carlos Williams

By the road to the contagious hospital
under the surge of the blue
mottled clouds driven from the
northeast—a cold wind. Beyond, the
waste of broad, muddy fields
brown with dried weeds, standing and fallen

patches of standing water
the scattering of tall trees

All along the road the reddish
purplish, forked, upstanding, twiggy
stuff of bushes and small trees
with dead, brown leaves under them
leafless vines—

Lifeless in appearance, sluggish
dazed spring approaches—

They enter the new world naked,
cold, uncertain of all
save that they enter. All about them
the cold, familiar wind—

Now the grass, tomorrow
the stiff curl of wildcarrot leaf

One by one objects are defined—
It quickens: clarity, outline of leaf

But now the stark dignity of
entrance—Still, the profound change
has come upon them: rooted they
grip down and begin to awaken

-

POEM OF THE DAY - "Spring and All" by William Carlos Williams

Spring And All

by William Carlos Williams

By the road to the contagious hospital
under the surge of the blue
mottled clouds driven from the
northeast—a cold wind. Beyond, the
waste of broad, muddy fields
brown with dried weeds, standing and fallen

patches of standing water
the scattering of tall trees

All along the road the reddish
purplish, forked, upstanding, twiggy
stuff of bushes and small trees
with dead, brown leaves under them
leafless vines—

Lifeless in appearance, sluggish
dazed spring approaches—

They enter the new world naked,
cold, uncertain of all
save that they enter. All about them
the cold, familiar wind—

Now the grass, tomorrow
the stiff curl of wildcarrot leaf

One by one objects are defined—
It quickens: clarity, outline of leaf

But now the stark dignity of
entrance—Still, the profound change
has come upon them: rooted they
grip down and begin to awaken

-