Cheri Langdell (Los Angeles Valley College)
lang@****.com (Log-in to reveal)

An ecological, spiritual and a political voice in American politics and culture for decades, W.S. Merwin defies neat categorization, yet his poetry speaks openly and directly to everyone. Recently Edward Hirsch called Merwin “one of the greatest poets of our age. He is a rare spiritual presence in American life and letters (the Thoreau of our era).” His death earlier this year prompts our desire for a discussion of his poetry, prose, prose poems, literary essays, and life. Lately a great deal of new criticism on Merwin has appeared, although many of his recent volumes have yet to receive sufficient critical attention; thus, this panel seeks to explore recent scholarship and his writing in general from a variety of critical perspectives.

Praised as “an early and eerily prescient visionary about global sustainability and ecological activism, and a giant of world letters, whose career spans eight decades and whose prodigious contributions total more than forty volumes of poetry, essays, memoirs, and prose” (Michael Wutz and Hal Crimmel), the productive poet W.S. Merwin passed away in March of this year; his departure signals the moment to re-evaluate his oeuvre and poetic career, his contribution to American culture and literature, and his poetic transformations. As Poet Laureate (twice), winner of the National Book Award, the Pulitzer Prize (twice), and many other awards, Merwin has been a major figure in American poetry for the past three or four decades. Alternately enigmatic and wistful, searching and trenchant, limpid and mysterious, his poetry emanates from a mythic and spiritual core, reflecting his longtime engagement in Buddhism. Always charismatic figure, Merwin was an icon for some readers of contemporary American poetry, but until now few critics have discussed his literary criticism, other writing and memoirs in books or recent articles. Only in the last decade has he spoken more directly about poetry, nature, religion, and articulated a clearer critical perspective than ever before, so it’s time to give this writing and his poetry fuller attention. It might be particularly valuable for listeners and writers to inquire: What is the value of his poetry overall? How does the environmental theme fit into his overall career? Presenters should provide listeners an immersion in his form, language, and themes, but embed that in an overall interpretation of the value or meaning of his work. Our panel invites submissions of essays that offer 21st century critical perspectives on Merwin’s poetry, prose, prose poems, and literary essays.