TO THE MISTAKES
You are the ones who
were not recognized
in time although you
may have been waiting
in full sight in broad
day from the first step
that set out toward you
and although you may
have been prophesied
hung round with warnings
had your big pictures
in all the papers
yet in the flesh you
did not look like that
each of you in turn
seemed like no one else
you are the ones
who are really my own
never will leave me
forever after
or ever belong
to anyone else
you are the ones I
must have needed
the ones who led me
in spite of all
that was said about you
you placed my footsteps
on the only way
— W.S. Merwin, from Present Company (2005, Copper Canyon Press), used by permission of the publishers.
Copyright © 2005 by W. S. Merwin.
This poem is also featured in our Poetry Lab series, and is discussed this week in the Austin-based radio series, This is Just to Say.
To browse through our archive of Featured Poems, click here.
To support the preservation of W.S. Merwin’s legacy and our efforts to preserve his living legacy for future generations, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to The Merwin Conservancy.
Featured photo by Morgan Jones. To see more of his work, visit his gallery our “Artists in the Forest” series.