Miller Williams Quotes

United States, Poet
April 8, 1930 – January, 1, 2015.

Stanley Miller Williams was an American contemporary poet, as well as a translator and editor. He produced over 25 books and won several awards for his poetry. His accomplishments were chronicled in Arkansas Biography. He is perhaps best known for reading a poem at the second inauguration of Bill Clinton. One of his best-known poems is "The Shrinking Lonesome Sestina."

Also known as Translator, Editor

I manage a toast to the Christmas tree and one to the sweet absurdity in the miracle of the verb to be. Lucky you, lucky me.

Miller Williams
- Sweet
- Tree
- Christmas
Every word you add dilutes the sentence.

Miller Williams
- Sentences

Too many poets write poems which are only difficult on the surface, difficult because the dramatic situation is easily misunderstood. It's not difficult to write poems that are misunderstood. A drunk, a three-year-old-they are easily misunderstood. What is difficult is being clear and mysterious at the same time. The dramatic situation needs to be as clear in a poem as it is in a piece of good journalism. The why is part of the mystery, but the who, what, where, and when should all be understood.

Miller Williams
Have compassion for everyone you meet, even if they don't want it. What seems conceit, bad manners, or cynicism is a sign of things no ears have heard, no eyes have seen. You do not know what wars are going on down there where the spirit meets the bone.

Miller Williams
- War
- Eye
- Spirit
Ritual is important to us as human beings. It ties us to our traditions and our histories.

Miller Williams
You do not know what wars are going on down there where the spirit meets the bone.

Miller Williams
- War
- Spirit
- Knows