"El Hombre"
Al Que Quiere! (1917)
Quotes from book
Al Que Quiere!
Al Que Quiere! is a collection of 52 poems by William Carlos Williams, published in 1917 by the Four Seas Company of Boston, Massachusetts. Williams paid $50 to the publisher. The original edition announces, "Many of the poems in this book have appeared in magazines, especially in Poetry, Others, The Egoist, and The Poetry Journal."
“The earth cracks and
is shriveled up;
the wind moans piteously;
the sky goes out
if you should fail.”
"Chicory and Daisies"
Al Que Quiere! (1917)
“the set pieces
of your faces stir me —
leading citizens —
but not
in the same way.”
"Apology"
Al Que Quiere! (1917)
"Libertad! Igualidad! Fraternidad!"
Al Que Quiere! (1917)
Context: Brother!
— if we were rich
we'd stick our chests out
and hold our heads high! It is dreams that have destroyed us. There is no more pride
in horses or in rein holding. We sit hunched together brooding
our fate. Well —
all things turn bitter in the end
whether you choose the right or
the left way
and —
dreams are not a bad thing.
“It is dreams that have destroyed us. There is no more pride
in horses or in rein holding.”
"Libertad! Igualidad! Fraternidad!"
Al Que Quiere! (1917)
Context: Brother!
— if we were rich
we'd stick our chests out
and hold our heads high! It is dreams that have destroyed us. There is no more pride
in horses or in rein holding. We sit hunched together brooding
our fate. Well —
all things turn bitter in the end
whether you choose the right or
the left way
and —
dreams are not a bad thing.
“I lie here thinking of you: the stain of love is upon the world!”
"Love Song"
Al Que Quiere! (1917)
“Why do I write today? The beauty of
the terrible faces
of our nonentities
stirs me to it”
"Apology"
Al Que Quiere! (1917)
Context: 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.
