Hayden Carruth (1921-2008) was an American poet, literary critic, and anthologist known for his wide-ranging work and lifelong engagement with tradition. He won the National Book Award in 1996 and was recognized as an important proponent of twentieth-century modernism.
Carruth’s poetry, characterized by controlled language and a blend of form and emotion, received critical acclaim, although opinions on his work varied. He also wrote essays, reviews, a novel, and edited anthologies. Carruth’s poems often explored rural poverty, rural life in Vermont, and themes of loneliness, madness, and death.
‘Notes on Poverty’ by Hayden Carruth is a short poem summarizing the meaning of poverty in one experience.
Was I so poor
in those damned days
that I went in the dark
in torn shoes
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