"The way we are, we are members of each other.
All of us. Everything. The difference ain't in who is a member
and who is not, but in who knows it and who don't." Burley
Coulter in "The Wild Birds"
The Membership in the Poetry
The Port William Membership exists not only in the novels
and short fiction of Wendell Berry but also in a number of poems
that have appeared over the years. While any number of poems
may be thought to contain references to the characters and situations
of the fictions, this list is restricted to those poems that
make explicit mention of one or more of the citizens of Port
William. This is a work-in-progress. Corrections and additions
are most welcome. Please contact
me.
Jack Beechum in
"The Bringer of Water" in Farming:
A Hand Book (1970)
"Work Song" in Clearing (1977) and Collected
Poems 1957-1982 |
Kate Helen Branch in
| "Burley Coulter's Song for Kate Helen Branch"
in Given (2005) |
Andy Catlett in
"1989, V" in A Timbered Choir:
The Sabath Poems 1979-1997
"In Art Rowanberry's Barn" in Given (2005) |
Henry Catlett in
| "The Bringer of Water" in Farming:
A Hand Book (1970) |
Burley Coulter in
"Window Poem" (section 27) in Openings
(1968), Collected Poems 1957-1982, and The Selected
Poems of Wendell Berry (1998)
"The Bringer of Water" in Farming: A Hand Book (1970)
"1989, V" in A Timbered Choir: The Sabath Poems
1979-1997
"Burley Coulter's Song for Kate Helen Branch" in
Given (2005)
"Sabbaths 2000, VI" in Given (2005) |
Jarrat Coulter in
| "The Bringer of Water" in Farming:
A Hand Book (1970) |
Nathan Coulter in
| "The Bringer of Water" in Farming:
A Hand Book (1970) |
Jayber Crow in
| "Sabbaths 2004, IV" in Given
(2005) |
Hannah Feltner in
| "The Bringer of Water" in Farming:
A Hand Book (1970) |
Little Margaret (Feltner) in
| "The Bringer of Water" in Farming:
A Hand Book (1970) |
Margaret Feltner in
| "The Bringer of Water" in Farming:
A Hand Book (1970) |
Mat Feltner in
"The Bringer of Water" in Farming:
A Hand Book (1970)
"Work Song" in Clearing (1977) and Collected
Poems 1957-1982 |
Virgil Feltner in
| "The Bringer of Water" in Farming:
A Hand Book (1970) |
Billy (Gibbs?), Uncle Stanley (Gibbs?), and Raymond (?) in
| "The Birth (Near Port William)" in
Farming: A Hand Book (1970) and Collected Poems
1957-1982 |
Elton Penn in
| "Work Song" in Clearing (1977)
and Collected Poems 1957-1982 |
Arthur Rowanberry in
"A Parting" in Entries (1997)
"In Art Rowanberry's Barn" in Given (2005) |
Martin Rowanberry in
"1990, I" in A Timbered Choir:
The Sabath Poems 1979-1997
"1992, VIII" in A Timbered Choir: The Sabath
Poems 1979-1997 |
The People of Port William
and Thereabouts
|
