External Websites

The following links to external websites provide more information about the life and works of W.S. Merwin.

Biographical information about W.S. Merwin can be found on the following websites.

Academy of American Poets External
Biography of W.S. Merwin, samples of his poetry, and links to external resources.
The Merwin Conservancy External
Biography of W.S. Merwin from the Merwin Conservancy, whose mission is to "preserv[e] the living legacy of W.S. Merwin, his home and palm forest, for future study and retreat for botanists and writers, for environmental advocacy and community education programs."
Poetry Foundation External
Biography of W.S. Merwin, more than 100 full-text poems, audio recordings, and articles by and about Merwin.
W.S. Merwin Papers External
A finding aid to the W.S. Merwin Papers at the Rare Book and Manuscript Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

For the latest news and discussions related to W.S. Merwin, see:

A selected list of news articles, interviews, and conversations, arranged in chronological order, follows below.

Selected Articles, News, and Interviews

"Letters From W. S. Merwin" External
The Paris Review. March 25, 2019.
"WS Merwin Obituary" External
The Guardian. March 25, 2019.
"Rita Dove Remembers Poet and Friend W.S. Merwin" External
Time. March 21, 2019.
"W.S. Merwin’s American Consciousness" External
The Washington Examiner. March 21, 2019.
"W. S. Merwin’s Poems of Ethical Care" External
The Atlantic. March 20, 2019.
"When You Go Away: Remembering W.S. Merwin" External
The New Yorker. March 20, 2019.
"The Poet Who Planted Trees"External
The New York Times. March 19, 2019.
"Poet W.S. Merwin Followed Where the Words Led" External
The Christian Science Monitor. March 18, 2019.
"Two Memories of W. S. Merwin" External
The Paris Review. March 18, 2019.
"W. S. Merwin in The New Yorker" External
The New Yorker. March 18, 2019.
"W.S. Merwin, Prize-winning Poet and Ardent Naturalist, Dies in His Maui home" External
Honolulu Star Advertiser. March 16, 2019.
"W.S. Merwin, Pulitzer-winning Poet and Peahi Resident, Dies" External
The Maui News. March 16, 2019.
"W.S. Merwin, US Poet Laureate and Zen Buddhist, Dies at 91" External
Lion's Roar. March 16, 2019.
"W.S. Merwin, Prize-Winning Poet and Conservationist, Has Died at 91" External
Vogue. March 15, 2019.
"Crashing W. S. Merwin’s Wedding" External
The Paris Review. March 15, 2019.
"W.S. Merwin, Poet of Life’s Evanescence, Dies at 91" External
The New York Times. March 15, 2019.
"W.S. Merwin, Former U.S. Poet Laureate, Has Died at 91" External
Publishers Weekly. March 15, 2019.
"W.S. Merwin, Poet of Austere Lyricism Who Twice Wwon the Pulitzer Prize, Dies at 91" External
The Washington Post. March 15, 2019.
"W. S. Merwin, 1927–2019" External
The Paris Review. March 15, 2019.
"Poet W.S. Merwin Dies at 91" External
Literary Hub. March 15, 2019.
"W.S. Merwin, Prize-winning Poet of Nature, Dies at 91" External
Associated Press. March 15, 2019.
"Pulitze Prize-winning Poet W.S. Merwin Passes Away at 91" External
The Merwin Conservancy. March 15, 2019.
"There Is No Time in the Garden" External
The American Scholar. March 11, 2019.
"The Ascetic Insight of W. S. Merwin" External
The New Yorker. September 18, 2017.
"Reading a Dysfunctional World: Why Merwin’s The Lice is Needed Now More than Ever" External
The Poetry Foundation. July 24, 2017.
"New W.S. Merwin-inspired Installation to Ppen at American Writers Museum" External
MauiTime. May 3, 2017.
"Wife of Poet W.S. Merwin Dies at Their Peahi Home" External
The Maui News, March 10, 2017.
"The Palm Trees and the Poetry of W.S. Merwin" External
The New Yorker. April 29, 2015.
"Patt Morrison Asks: The Poet, W.S. Merwin" External
Beached Miami. March 11, 2011.
"An Interview with W.S. Merwin, Poet Laureate" External
The Progressive. November 2010.
Poet and Poem interview External
September 2010.
"W.S. Merwin is Green as U.S. Poet Laureate" External
Los Angeles Times. August 29, 2010.
"W.S. Merwin: What Kind of Poet Laureate will He Be?" External
The Christian Science Monitor. July 2, 2010.
"W.S. Merwin, Hawaii-based Poet, Will Serve as 17th U.S. Laureate" External
The Washington Post. July 1, 2010.
"W. S. Merwin to Be Named Poet Laureate" External
The New York Times. July 1, 2010.
"Finding Home and Inspiration in the World of Nature" External
The New York Times. June 30, 2010.
"Why WS Merwin Deserves His Second Pulitzer Prize" External
The Guardian Books blog. April 24, 2009.
"W.S. Merwin Interview" External
Academy of Achievement. July 3, 2008.
"Present in Company: Translator and Poet W.S. Merwin Muses on the Importance of Nothing" External
Metroactive. November 21, 2007.
W.S. Merwin External
Shadowgraph Magazine. 2005.
"A Conversation with W.S. Merwin" External
Artful Dodge. October 2, 2003.
"A Master Gardener of Verse" External
The Christian Science Monitor. April 24, 2003.
Interview with W.S. Merwin External
The Pedestal Magazine. April-June 2003.
"Catching Up with Maui’s Most Famous Poet" External
Honolulu Star-Bulletin. April 21, 2001.
"Swimming Up Into Poetry" External
The Atlantic Monthly. August 28, 1997.
"A Poet of their Own" External
The New York Times. February 19, 1995.

A selection of radio programs featuring W.S. Merwin or in which Merwin and his work are discussed are listed below.

"Remembering Pulitzer Prize-Winning Poet W. S. Merwin" External
Fresh Air, NPR. March 22, 2019 (20:13)
"Remember W.S. Merwin" External
Weekend Edition Saturday, NPR. March 15, 2019 (1:14)
"Poet W.S. Merwin, Who Was Inspired By Conservation, Dies At 91" External
Weekend Edition Sunday, NPR. March 15, 2019 (4:14)
"Stephanie Land And W.S. Merwin Reflect On The Importance Of Making Mistakes" External
Montana Public Radio. June 1, 2016 (4:58)
"W.S. Merwin on Poetry" External
The Leonard Lopate Show. January 3, 2011 (19:46)
"W.S. Merwin Named Nation's 17th Poet Laureate" External
All Things Considered, NPR. July 1, 2010 (5:10)
"The Art Of Poetry with W.S. Merwin" External
Weekday, KUOW. February 4, 2010
"The Poetic 'Shadow' Of Memory, Mortality" External
Fresh Air, NPR. December 16, 2009 (20:35)
"W.S. Merwin: The 'Sirius' Side Of Poetry" External
Fresh Air, NPR. April 21, 2009 (19:41)
"W.S. Merwin" External
Bookworm, KCRW. August 31, 2006 (28:29)
"RADIO ALOUD: A Library of the Airwaves" External
Library Foundation of Los Angeles. April 4, 2005 (Merwin begins at 45:16)
"Armchair Traveler: W.S. Merwin" External
Morning Edition, NPR. August 7, 2003 (7:05)

Podcasts and other non-radio audio recordings featuring W.S. Merwin are listed below.

Poetry Foundation Recordings External
•Poems of Pollution and Protest (includes recording of Merwin's "In Time" at 02:45)
•Essential American Poets (09:11)
•"To My Legs" (00:56)
•"To the Ancient Order of Legs" (00:46)
•W.S. Merwin and Dara Wier on gratitude and food (06:22)
"W.S. Merwin: On Reading What You Want, Reading It Slowly, and the Beauty of Trees" External
Literary Hub. January 12, 2017 (28:29)
Poetry: W.S. Merwin External
Hammer Museum, UCLA. October 29, 2009 (52:39)
Rita Dove and W.S. Merwin: A Gift for Language
Academy of Achievement. December 3, 2018 (55:41)
W.S. Merwin with Robert Hass External
Lannan Readings & Conversations. October 26, 2005.
W.S. Merwin: Essential American Poets External
Poetry Foundation (10:07)

Videos of W.S. Merwin reading and discussing his work can be found through the following sources.

YouTube - "W.S. Merlin" search results External
Numerous videos of Merlin reading and performing his work appear through this YouTube search on his name.
"How Poet W.S. Merwin found Paradise by Planting Palm Trees" External
PBS NewsHour. February 20, 2015 (6:18)
"Poet W.S. Merwin Recites 'Rain Light' among the Lush Palms at His Maui Home" External
PBS NewsHour. February 2, 2015 (0:52)
"Poets & Readers Together: W.S. Merwin Addresses Librarians at Poets House" External
Poets House, via YouTube. October 21, 2010 (6:41)
"A Conversation with W.S. Merwin" External
The Kenyon Review. Fall 2010 (35:18)
"W.S. Merwin on Becoming the New Poet Laureate" External
PBS NewsHour. October 27, 2010 (7:26)
"W.S. Merwin in conversation with Paul Holdengräber" External
LIVE from the NYPL. October 22, 2010, via YouTube (1:47:41)
Bill Moyers Journal Part 1 and 2 External
June 26, 2009 (18:53) and (30:25)
"W.S. Merwin: A Passion for Poetry and the Natural World" External
Online NewsHour Poetry Series. December 29, 2008.
"A Tribute to W.S. Merwin at the 92nd Streey Y" External
92Y. October 10, 2005 (38:17)
W.S. Merwin with Naomi Shihab Nye External
Lannan Readings & Conversations. October 18, 2000.

W.S. Merwin, U.S. Poet Laureate: A Resource Guide

General Inquiries: Ask a Librarian

External Websites

Selected Articles, News, and Interviews

Poetry Reviews

The Shadow of Sirius (2008)

The Book of Fables (2007)

Selected Poems (2007)

Migration: New and Selected Poems (2005)

Present Company (2005)

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: A New Verse Translation (2004)

The Pupil: Poems (2001)

Purgatorio (2001 translation)

The River Sound (1999)

The Vixen (1996)

Selected Poems (1988)

The Rain in the Trees (1988)

The Lice (1967)

Spanish Ballads (1961)

Prose Reviews

Summer Doorways: A Memoir (2005)

The Ends of the Earth: Essays (2004)

The Mays of Ventadorn (2002)

The Lost Upland (1992)