National Book Foundation — “The World Below the Window”

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“The World Below the Window”

The geraniums I left last night on the windowsill,

To the best of my knowledge now, are out there still,

And will be there as long as I think they will.

And will be there as long as I think that I

Can throw the window open on the sky,

A touch of geranium pink in the tail of my eye;

As long as I think I see, past leaves green-growing,

Barges moving down a river, water flowing,

Fulfillment in the thought of thought outgoing,

Fulfillment in the sight of sight replying,

Of sound in the sound of small birds southward flying,

In life life-giving, and in death undying.


- William Jay Smith

Smith, a former US Poet Laureate and two-time National Book Award Finalist, passed away on Tuesday, August 18.

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