we are asleep with compasses in our hands

[nightdog_barks]

That's a line from a poem by W.S. Merwin, called The Estuary. He passed away this morning, aged 91. Here's one of his short poems --

Separation

Your absence has gone through me
Like thread through a needle.
Everything I do is stitched with its color.

Comments

[lovelythings]

That's a good one.

[topaz_eyes]

That poem is perfect. Wow.

[bironic]

RIP.

That poem was one of the first we studied in AP English in high school. Still remember spending many minutes discussing the effectiveness of the choice of the word "stitched."

[taiga13]

Whew. Three such powerful lines.