What the Grass Says

poetry by Simic

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July 15, 2026

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What the Grass Says is the debut poetry collection by Charles Simic, published in 1967. Critics noted that Simic's imagery in this work drew from rural and European subjects, reflecting his heritage and childhood experiences during World War II, rather than those of his adopted country, the United States. Simic, a Yugoslavian-born American poet, often used his Eastern European background to comment on the lack of spirituality in modern life. The collection was well-received and marked the beginning of his prolific career, which included a Pulitzer Prize for poetry.1

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Charles Simic
Simic’s first volume of poetry, What the Grass Says (1967), was well received; critics noted that his imagery drew on rural and European subjects rather than those of his adopted country. Among Simic’s many subsequent poetry collections are Somewhere Among Us a Stone Is Taking Notes (1969), Dismantling the Silence…
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Simic’s first volume of poetry, What the Grass Says (1967), was well received; critics noted that his imagery drew on rural and European subjects rather than those of his adopted country. Among Simic’s many subsequent poetry collections are Somewhere Among Us a Stone Is Taking Notes (1969), Dismantling the Silence…
Read More