'Al Que Quiere! (and 18 more poems)' Summary

This volume of poetry by William Carlos Williams, originally published in 1919, is a significant collection of early poems that reflect his evolving poetic voice. The poems, written in a free verse style, are characterized by a focus on simple, often mundane, aspects of everyday life. Williams, who is known for his commitment to "American” poetry, explores themes of nature, urban environments, love, and loss with a direct and unadorned style. The collection includes poems that are intensely personal, exploring intimate relationships and themes of sexuality, and others that focus on the external world, reflecting on the natural world and the urban landscape. Throughout these poems, Williams’s skill in capturing the essence of ordinary experience and his unconventional use of language are evident. This collection serves as a valuable glimpse into the development of a major figure in American poetry.