William Jay Smith served as Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress (a position now called Poet Laureate) from 1968 to 1970. His memoir, Army Brat, was widely acclaimed. A new memoir, Dancing in the Garden: A Bittersweet Love Affair with France, is forthcoming. It deals with his summer as a student in Tours in 1938, on the eve of World War II.

Smith turns 90 this year, so don't carp about the several previously collected poems in this book. Instead, appreciate the book's exquisite arrangement and the concern of the collection as a whole with linking eras of life and art. -- Ray Olson Booklist 2008 In this utterly delightful book, variety is matched by insight. -- Tom D'Evelyn Providence Journal 2008 Few poets go on writing well into old age, but the Louisiana-born William Jay Smith is one of them. Still going strong, his poetry, marked by great technical skill, is witty and satiric, poignant and humane... Smith's poetry offers sensuous pleasure and intellectual delight. -- Jeffrey Meyers New Criterion 2009 Words by the Water is very much recommended reading for poetry fans. -- James A. Cox Midwest Book Review 2008

• Author's NotePreludeThe AtollThe AtollOf IslandsNote: PalmyraOn His Dark BedReflectionThe GardenThe FlightNote: The AtollThe HuntWillow WoodInvitation to Ground ZeroContemplation of ConspiracyThe Poor Peacock and the Rich PeacockPerfect Lives: PortraitsRiddlesThe Artist and the ArenaThe HuntThe Deet and the Dachshund: Light Verse and SatireDachshundsAuthor, AuthorThe Literary LifeEpitaphsOn the Banks of the MississippiOxford DoggerelTranslationsHarry Martinson: The Forest of ChildhoodHarry Martinson: PeoniesHarry Martinson: The HenhousePaul Valéry: PomegranatesJules Laforgue: The Far WestKjell Hjern: On the Growth of Hair in Middle AgeJean-Max Tixier: WritingBasho: HaikuSándor Weöres: The Lunatic CyclistSándor Weöres: Boundless SpaceThe Greatest Wealth: Wedding SongsNow Touch the Air SoftlyThe BouquetSong for a Country WeddingThe Greatest WealthWords by the WaterOld Cherokee Woman's SongSong of the DispossessedA Rational DepartureRhetorical QuestionCats in a Summer GardenTo the Memory of Hubert Creekmore (1907–1966)A Green OasisWoman at the PianoWords by the WaterAcknowledgments

William Jay Smith served as Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress (a position now called Poet Laureate) from 1968 to 1970. His memoir, Army Brat, was widely acclaimed. A new memoir, Dancing in the Garden: A Bittersweet Love Affair with France, is forthcoming. It deals with his summer as a student in Tours in 1938, on the eve of World War II.

Smith turns 90 this year, so don't carp about the several previously collected poems in this book. Instead, appreciate the book's exquisite arrangement and the concern of the collection as a whole with linking eras of life and art. -- Ray Olson Booklist 2008 In this utterly delightful book, variety is matched by insight. -- Tom D'Evelyn Providence Journal 2008 Few poets go on writing well into old age, but the Louisiana-born William Jay Smith is one of them. Still going strong, his poetry, marked by great technical skill, is witty and satiric, poignant and humane... Smith's poetry offers sensuous pleasure and intellectual delight. -- Jeffrey Meyers New Criterion 2009 Words by the Water is very much recommended reading for poetry fans. -- James A. Cox Midwest Book Review 2008

• Author's NotePreludeThe AtollThe AtollOf IslandsNote: PalmyraOn His Dark BedReflectionThe GardenThe FlightNote: The AtollThe HuntWillow WoodInvitation to Ground ZeroContemplation of ConspiracyThe Poor Peacock and the Rich PeacockPerfect Lives: PortraitsRiddlesThe Artist and the ArenaThe HuntThe Deet and the Dachshund: Light Verse and SatireDachshundsAuthor, AuthorThe Literary LifeEpitaphsOn the Banks of the MississippiOxford DoggerelTranslationsHarry Martinson: The Forest of ChildhoodHarry Martinson: PeoniesHarry Martinson: The HenhousePaul Valéry: PomegranatesJules Laforgue: The Far WestKjell Hjern: On the Growth of Hair in Middle AgeJean-Max Tixier: WritingBasho: HaikuSándor Weöres: The Lunatic CyclistSándor Weöres: Boundless SpaceThe Greatest Wealth: Wedding SongsNow Touch the Air SoftlyThe BouquetSong for a Country WeddingThe Greatest WealthWords by the WaterOld Cherokee Woman's SongSong of the DispossessedA Rational DepartureRhetorical QuestionCats in a Summer GardenTo the Memory of Hubert Creekmore (1907–1966)A Green OasisWoman at the PianoWords by the WaterAcknowledgments