Anne Perrier 1922–
lausanne, switzerland
P
errier is a major voice in Swiss poetry. Her husband, Jean Hutter, is
director of the publishing house Payot-Lausanne. Perrier’s work has
appeared under her husband’s imprint, as has Philippe Jaccottet’s. Al-though she studied the classics and French literature, her poetry is most inspired
by her love of music. She has won many literary prizes and has been widely
translated. Principal works: Selon la nuit, 1952; Pour un vitrail, 1955; Le Livre
d’Ophélie, 1979; Oeuvre poétique, 1952–1994, 1996; La Voie nomade, 2000.
All Earth’s Things
All earth’s things
You have to love them passing
And bear them on your fingers’ ends
And sing them quietly
Keep them give them
In turn not hold on to them
More than a day take them
And now give them up
Like your ticket for the trip
And just let them go
—mary ann caws