W. S. Merwin

American poet (1927-2019) · United States · On the map · Writers · Died at 91

William Stanley Merwin 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.

W. S. Merwin is read about 75 times a day, in 27 languages.

A typical day, 30 days to 6 November 2026

The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 104 days, one point a day.

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A life in dates

2019Died15 March 20192014Harold Morton Landon Translation AwardAward2010United States Poet LaureateAward2009Pulitzer Prize for PoetryAward2005Golden WreathAwardNational Book Award for PoetryAward2003Harold Morton Landon Translation AwardAward1998Ruth Lilly Poetry PrizeAward1994Lenore Marshall Poetry PrizeAward1979Bollingen PrizeAward1974Shelley Memorial AwardAward1973Fellowship of the Academy of American PoetsAwardGuggenheim FellowshipAward1971Pulitzer Prize for PoetryAward1969PEN Translation PrizeAward1927Born30 September 1927

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Merwin grew up on this street in Union City, New Jersey, which was renamed for him in 2006.

Awards

Harold Morton Landon Translation Award2014

United States Poet Laureate2010

Pulitzer Prize for Poetry2009

National Book Award for Poetry2005

Golden Wreath2005

Harold Morton Landon Translation Award2003

Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize1998

Wallace Stevens Award1994

Lenore Marshall Poetry Prize1994

Bollingen Prize1979

Shelley Memorial Award1974

Guggenheim Fellowship1973

Fellowship of the Academy of American Poets1973

Pulitzer Prize for Poetry1971

PEN Translation Prize1969

About this person

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.

Country

United States