W. S. Merwin

William Stanley Merwin (1927-2019) was an American poet renowned for his profound engagement with nature, anti-war themes, and innovative free verse style without punctuation. He authored over fifty books of poetry and prose, including notable works such as The Carrier of Ladders (1971, Pulitzer Prize), Migration: New and Selected Poems (2005, National Book Award), and The Shadow of Sirius (2009, Pulitzer Prize). Career highlights include serving as the 17th U.S. Poet Laureate in 2010 and extensive environmental activism restoring rainforests in Hawaii.