Manuscripts of 1963 Journal
Select an image to view and enlarge text. The manuscripts are in the order Merrill placed them in before sending to Special Collections, Washington University. See the "Notes on the Manuscripts" link on the left. (????)
1) P. 59. "The Funnies." "In world war I my father was a test / Pilot."
2) P. 60. "Was I his blind spot?" "Small beyond swaying glooms."
3) P. 61. "May 21." "Others. Father as Flier. House. avenue for a theme."
4) P. 62. "The TWO PERSEPHONES." "Medallions." "May 22. " A reference to Robert Morse's The Two Persephones (Creative Age Pr., 1942), indicating Persephone's dual role as the Goddess of Springtime and the Queen of the Underworld.
5) P. 86. "The big red dog named Michael."
6) P. 87. "The Red Setter." "25-26 March."
7) P. 89. "Now it is 1931." "pacing the gravel under the moon."
8) P. 91. "3. Meanwhile." "She: You should slow down & take it easy."
9) P. 92. "18 March." "The lead Soldier-poured molten into the mould. a poem about WWI (II?)."
10) P. 93. "Whenever the sun came out the old gray old/ Snow melted."
11) P. 95. "A loosely-clenched hand." "March 16."
12) P. 96. "A cheek bone sharp & small." Drawing of Merrill's mother in her Red Cross cape with her son. In 1945 Mrs. Merrill served as a Red Cross administrator on Guam and Hawaii.
13) P. 175. "Following the rainbow / of the rag runner." "The People Upstairs."
14) P. 176. "Variations: Mother & Child." "The People [Family] Upstairs."