Journal 50 - Last Poem Draft

Item

Merrill, James. 1995. “Journal 50 - Last Poem Draft”. Series_II_Journals, James Merrill: Life and Archive, accessed February 11, 2026, https://digitalexhibits.library.wustl.edu/s/james-merrill-life-and-archive/item/38408

Title
Journal 50 - Last Poem Draft
Description
Journal 50 contains Merrill's last poem draft, called "The Next to Last Scene," scribbled down (without his glasses) the day before he died of a heart attack. It was unusual for Merrill to title the first draft of a poem in his notebook.
Subject
Merrill, James, 1926-1995
Creator
Merrill, James
Source
James Merrill Papers (MSS083) - Box 122, Folder 2938
Date
1995: February 5
Relation
Series_II_Journals
Exhibit Cases 9-10: Love and Death
James Merrill: Life and Art, p. 790
Format
1 leaf. Recto.
1 jpeg. 600 ppi.
Language
English
Type
Manuscript
Identifier
MSS083_II_1_the_next_to_the_last_scene.jpg
Rights Holder
Washington University in St. Louis
Rights
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Item sets
Merrill
Merrill Life Archive
Site pages
Love and Death - Journals
Media
MSS083_II_1_the_next_to_the_last_scene.jpg

Merrill, James. 1995. “Journal 50 - Last Poem Draft”. Series_II_Journals, James Merrill: Life and Archive, accessed February 11, 2026, https://digitalexhibits.library.wustl.edu/s/james-merrill-life-and-archive/item/38408