The Passing Show

Over four decades, Chicago poet William Argyle Clifford published over 700 poems in local newspapers. This collection includes all of his published and many of his unpublished poems, as well as his personal comments, notes to his editor, and personal anecdotes. With typical self-effacing humor, he portrays himself as the grasshopper, always playing and enjoying life. He loves a good rhyme, he loves a good joke, he loves making sly observations about himself and the world around him. His words paint a picture of a man who loved words and who was a keen observer of the changes he saw, both in his personal life and the cultural life of the latter half of the 20th Century. Presented in chronological order, his poems provide insight into the poetic process and give a glimpse into who this poet was. He may have seen himself as a grasshopper, but his clever turns of phrase, astute observations, and complete dedication to his poetry attest to his work, which we are lucky to enjoy.