The Poem Forest: Poet W. S. Merwin and the Palm Tree Forest He Grew from Scratch. Written by Carrie Fountain and illustrated by Chris Turnham. Candlewick Press, Penguin Random House. 2022. $24.99 ages 6 and up

 

"The very first day, William Stanley dug a hole
in the ground and planted a tree. Putting the 
delicate roots into the earth was a way of 
promising he meant what he'd said. Yes, 
thanks. This is the spot."

If you read this blog, you will know that I love learning about people not familiar to me. I knew nothing of William Stanley Merwin, although he was once Poet Laureate for the United States. It was with interest I read this biographical story of two very important times in his life. 

Ms. Fountain writes first of his childhood, a time when he loved wild places. He loved the sounds, the silence and the feeling he got from being in spaces that were earthy and full of natural things. He didn't live there; he lived in a town where 'the wild parts had been straightened out and turned into roads and driveways'. He worried that the places he loved might one day become just like his town. 

He loved being in the wilderness, and he loved writing poetry. Once grown, he lived the life of a student, a world traveler, and a person who lived in many different places. After numerous changes, he set his sights on Hawaii, where he looked for a perfect spot to make his home. 

"He was surprised when he found that his perfect wild spot
wasn't perfect or wild at all. It had been stripped of all its 
rich, dark soil."

Some people even called it a wasteland. William loved everything about it, and spent the rest of his life planting palm trees, and making it a place for healing and learning. He planted all types of palm trees and created a forest in the wilderness with his wife Paula. As they grew older, both became concerned with what would happen to their home when they were no longer there to care for it. To ensure its survival, they chose to give it away to a conservancy. Now, it will never stop growing there. 

An author's note adds context and further info, and the book concludes with the poem Palm. The digital illustrations are a welcome addition, allowing readers to see the important moments in Mr. Merwin's life, and to show how the landscape changed for him and for those who visit the palm forest he created.