Well, I'm sorry for you folks that have to stand,
but I think you'll find it's worth it.
The last time Bill Merwin read for us,
we had speakers in the hall.
But it didn't work out too well.
And I think you'll hear as well.
If you're one of the two people in Pima County who
did not receive one of these, I brought a stack over.
And I'll have them out on the refreshment table
after the reading.
We have two tables set up, and I hope
you'll stay and have some punch and cookies
and meet Mr. Merwin.
Our next reading is one week from tonight
in this auditorium, will be the visiting poet Robert Hass.
W.S. Merwin first came to read for us in 1969.
And he's made many happy visits to Tucson since then.
It's always such a pleasure to have old friends come back
to know what a treat we have in store.
In addition to his poetry and prose, as you know,
Bill Merwin is a translator for Follain, Mandelstam,
such classics as the Poem of the Cid and the Song of Roland.
His most recent collection of poetry is Opening the Hand.
And his most recent collection of prose is Unframed Originals.
His many prizes include Pulitzer Prize, PEN Translation Prize,
Fellowship of the Academy of American Poets,
the Bollingen Prize, and many others.
He makes his home now on the island of Maui in Hawaii.
Very happy to introduce to you W.S. Merwin.