Pulitzer Prize Poetry Winner

The Shadow of Sirius

by W. S. Merwin

Summary

Merwin returns to memory, lost dogs, light, and the deepening quiet of late life with a tone of grave tenderness. His unpunctuated lines flow with a chant-like steadiness, blurring the borders between recollection and present perception. The collection feels written from inside a long listening, attentive to what passes and what remains.

Historical Context & Significance

Merwin's second Pulitzer. The book reflects the "organic" feel of his life in a Hawaii palm forest.