The Tempers

WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS (1883-1963) One of the most original and widely imitated poets of the twentieth century, William Carlos Williams wrote verse firmly rooted in the details of everyday life. A practicing physician for more than 40 years, Williams worked in the idiom of modern American speech, and his poems are redolent with a generosity of spirit. The Beat poets were particularly impressed with the accessibility of his language, and Williams's widely quoted dictum, "No ideas but in things," influenced a generation of American poets. After receiving his medical degree, he worked as a doctor for the rest of his life. “The Tempers” was William Carlos Williams’ second volume of poetry. Published in London in 1913, it was a rare, limited edition arranged by his friend and mentor Ezra Pound.