May Swenson

Winner of several fellowships and honors during her lifetime, May Swenson's poetry runs the gamut from experimental and filled with childlike curiousity to erotic and deeply poignant. Swenson's poetry has been set by many American composers, including William Bolcom, Susan Botti, Aaron Jay Kernis, David Leisner, Otto Luening (choral setting), Howard Swanson, and Gwyneth Walker.

Photo: May Swenson, taken by Henry Carlisle, PoetryFoundation.org.

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About

Born in Utah, Swenson was the daughter of Swedish immigrants, and in her large Mormon household, English was a second language. Swenson earned her degree at Utah State University, where her father taught mechanical engineering. A writer from an early age, Swenson moved to New York City in 1935 to pursue her writing career, holding various jobs before becoming the editor of New Directions Press in 1959. Her first volume of poems, Another Animal, was published in 1954.

Swenson was a very prolific poet, publishing several volumes of poetry throughout her lifetime. She also wrote three collections of poetry for children, one play, and has translated works by Tomas Tranströmer.

Her poetry is known for its keen observation, playfulness, and constant questioning of the world surrounding her.

–Christie Finn

Related Information

Books

Songs

Sheet Music

I Will Breathe a Mountain

Composer(s): William Bolcom

Song(s): 1. Pity Me Not Because the Light of Day
2. How To Swing Those Obbligatos Around
3. The Crazy Woman
4. Just Once Text: Anne Sexton
5. Never More Will The Wind
6. The Sage Text: Denise Levertov
7. O To Be a Dragon
8. The Bustle in a House
9. I Saw Eternity
10. Night Practice
11. The Fish

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Mornings Innocent

Composer(s): Gwyneth Van Anden Walker

Song(s): 1. Women Should Be Pedestals
2. Mornings Innocent
3. In Autumn
4. I Will Be Earth

Voice Type: High

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