Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


APOLOGY by WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS

Poem Explanation Poet Analysis

First Line: WHY DO I WRITE TODAY?
Last Line: IN THE SAME WAY.

Why do I write today?

The beauty of
the terrible faces
of our nonentities
stirs me to it:

colored women
day workers --
old and experienced --
returning home at dusk
in cast off clothing
faces like
old Florentine oak.

Also

the set pieces
of your faces stir me --
leading citizens --
but not
in the same way.



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