With what stillness at last<br>you appear in the valley<br>your first sunlight reaching down<br>to touch the tips of a few<br>high leaves that do not stir<br>as though they had not noticed<br>and did not know you at all<br>then the voice of a dove calls<br>from far away in itself<br>to the hush of the morning<br>so this is the sound of you<br>here and now whether or not<br>anyone hears it this is<br>where we have come with our age<br>our knowledge such as it is<br>and our hopes such as they are<br>invisible before us<br>untouched and still possible
W.S. Merwin (1927–2019)
The American poet William Stanley Merwin (1927–2019) published more than fifty volumes of poetry, prose, and translations. His many awards included two Pulitzer Prizes for Poetry (1971 and 2009) and a National Book Award (2005). In 2010 he was named the United States Poet Laureate. This poem is from Present Company (Copper Canyon Press, 2005).