Paul Merchant

An Unexpected Guest

in the margin between awake and asleep autumn leaves suspend, horizontal in the air above my bed the odor of wet dirt asleep or awake dead …

Dear Mary

I am writing this letter by the dim glow of my old Boy Scout flashlight. I hope you can read my handwriting. It is midnight. A train has …

Inspired by the Kokinshū

I. now that your dreams can climb the trees that grow on mountain peaks they will embrace this wind like waves of wisteria II. after the …

Ring Out, Wild Bells

I’m happy that one of the church congregations I met with on Sunday sang Tennyson’s “Ring Out, Wild Bells.” Although …