William Carlos Williams (1883 – 1963) was an important figurehead in the Imagist and Modernism movements in American poetry and served as a primary inspiration for the Beat writers. Williams’ poetry is often characterized by his use of humor and his interest in conventional, everyday topics. In addition to writing, Williams had a thriving medial practice in New Jersey, serving as a physician (and pediatrician) for his entire career. Here is a poem that Williams’ wrote about smell.