william carlos williams

Not going to lie, when I was deciding where to go to medical school, I totally took into consideration the famous people who went to each institution–not famous physicians, scientists, or noble prize winners.  Let’s see, Meredeth Grey went to Dartmouth, but Martin Luther King Jr. went to BU…and why in the world didn’t I apply to Michigan?!–Dr. Gregory House went there!!!

So, not that this tidbit has any relevance to my medical education, but reason #167 why Penn is a great fit for me: William Carlos Williams, the famous poet-doctor (doctor-poet?), went here!  Definitely, definitely one of my top three favorite poems of all time is “This Is Just To Say”, but it’s been getting so much press recently (as it should!) that I wanted to post something a little different.

I don’t read a lot of poetry; I read some tonight/this morning because I wanted to take part in some kind of personal ritual in honor of September 11th.  The following poem really has nothing to do with September 11th, but, as the summer draws to a close, it gave me peace.  I present to you “Summer Song,” by William Carlos Williams:

Wanderer moon

smiling a

faintly ironical smile

at this

brilliant, dew-moistened

summer morning,—

a detached

sleepily indifferent

smile, a

wanderer’s smile,—

if I should

buy a shirt

your color and

put on a necktie

sky-blue

where would they carry me?

Above pictures from Abby and Colin’s beautiful Texan wedding at Abby’s grandparents’ farm.  Not quite summer, and not quite morning; the colors and attitude are perfect.