But those two plays left me on fresh terms with language. I didn't always have to speak in my own voice. James Merrill freshlanguageleave Change image and share on social
At college I'd seen my dead frog's limbs twitch under some applied stimulus or other - seen, but hadn't believed. Didn't dream of thinking beyond or around what I saw. James Merrill applybelievecollege Change image and share on social
Arthur Young's Reflexive Universe - fascinating but too schematic to fit into my scheme. The most I could hope for was a sense of the vocabulary and some possible images. James Merrill arthurfascinatefit Change image and share on social
Strange about parents. We have such easy access to them and such daunting problems of communication. James Merrill accesscommunicationdaunt Change image and share on social
Knowing some Greek helped defuse forbidding words - not that I counted much on using them. You'll find only trace elements of this language in the poem. James Merrill countdefuseelement Change image and share on social
Before trying a novel I wrote a couple of plays. James Merrill coupleplaywrite Change image and share on social
And, as I have said, it's made me think twice about the imagination. If the spirits aren't external, how astonishing the mediums become! Victor Hugo said of his voices that they were like his own mental powers multiplied by five. James Merrill astonishexternalhugo share on social
He puts his right hand lightly on the cup, I put my left, leaving the right free to transcribe, and away we go. We get, oh, 500 to 600 words an hour. Better than gasoline. James Merrill cupfreegasoline Change image and share on social
In life, there are no perfect affections. James Merrill affectionlifeperfect Change image and share on social
The simplest science book is over my head. James Merrill bookheadscience Change image and share on social
