The Winds / William Carlos Williams

The Winds

flowing edge to edge
their clear edges meeting —
the winds of this northern March —
blow the bark from the trees
the soil from the field
the hair from the heads of
girls, the shirts from the backs
of the men, roofs from the
houses, the cross from the
church, clouds from the sky
the fur from the faces of
wild animals, crusts
from scabby eyes, scales from
the mind and husbands from wives

~~

William Carlos Williams (1883-1963)

from Collected Poems, 1921-1931, 1934

[Poem is in the public domain in Canada and the United States]

William Carlos Williams biography