Poetry pays

Yesterday was the birthday of the poet W.S. Merwin. I wrote a story about him once after seeing him speak at the Union. I left feeling calm and quiet and reflective. He was very humble, yet passionate, visibly passionate, about his writing.

Anyway, I heard on NPR yesterday that Merwin makes $25,000 - $30,000 a year. This is a man who has won a Pulitzer Prize for his poems.

First, this struck me as honorable. What a humble person he must be to settle for that small salary. It seems he's happy so long as he is writing poetry, but maybe that's just me being romantic. I wonder if he's ever tried to do anything else.

Second, I decided I think people should read more poetry. If he were selling more books (he has written dozens, I own one of them), he'd be making more money.

The starving artist perpetuated.