Merrill, James 1985
Wednesday, April 17, 1985
Vintage poster of James Merrill’s reading at the Poetry Center of Chicago.
The hand with a seagull purpose falls upon
Sand where the beach is barren: through clean light
From eye’s blue zenith, past seascapes of blue,
Falls on grey sand; yet stenciled in its fall
– James Merrill, “Accumulations of the Sea”
Listen to James Merrill read some of his poetry at the 1969 Glascock Poetry Contest:
The boatman rowed into
That often-sung impasse.
Each visitor foreknew
A floor of lilting glass,
A vault of stone, lit blue.
– James Merrill, “The Blue Grotto”
Read an interview with James Merrill from the Paris Review:
Paris Review – The Art of Poetry No. 31, James Merrill
The Paris Review is a literary magazine featuring original writing, art, and in-depth interviews with famous writers.
