That’s right, and congratulations should go not only to him but to the United States for honoring such a talent, and yes, a dharmic force. For those of you who didn’t know about Merwin’s connection to Buddhism, quoth The Poetry Foundation:

“Merwin moved to Hawaii to study Zen Buddhism in 1976. He eventually settled in Maui and began to restore the forest surrounding his former plantation. Both the rigor of practicing Buddhism and the tropical landscape have greatly influenced Merwin’s later style.”

Read about his appointment to US Poet Laureate at the Library of Congress website, here.