William Carlos Williams
William Carlos Williams (September 17, 1883 – March 4, 1963) was an American poet closely associated with modernism and imagism. In addition to his writing, Williams had a long career as a physician practicing both pediatrics and general medicine. In his modernist epic collage of place entitled Paterson, an account of the history, people, and essence of Paterson, New Jersey, Williams wrote his own modern epic poem, focusing on "the local" on a wider scale than he had previously attempted. He also examined the role of the poet in American society and famously summarized his poetic method in the phrase "No ideas but in things"
In his later years, Williams mentored and influenced many younger poets. He had an especially significant influence on many of the American literary movements of the 1950s, including the Beat movement. One of Williams's most dynamic relationships as a mentor was with fellow New Jersey poet Allen Ginsberg.