William Stafford poems

[DebutsAndIDos]

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Anyone read the poems of William Stafford?
They are deceptively simple but very thought-inspiring...
Here's one...


A Ritual to Read to Each Other

If you don't know the kind of person I am
and I don't know the kind of person you are
a pattern that others made may prevail in the world
and following the wrong god home we may miss our star.

For there is many a small betrayal in the mind,
a shrug that lets the fragile sequence break
sending with shouts the horrible errors of childhood
storming out to play through the broken dyke.

And as elephants parade holding each elephant's tail,
but if one wanders the circus won't find the park,
I call it cruel and maybe the root of all cruelty
to know what occurs but not recognize the fact.

And so I appeal to a voice, to something shadowy,
a remote important region in all who talk:
though we could fool each other, we should consider--
lest the parade of our mutual life get lost in the dark.

For it is important that awake people be awake,
or a breaking line may discourage them back to sleep;
the signals we give--yes, no, or maybe--
should be clear: the darkness around us is deep.

[DebutsAndIDos]

Notice What This Poem Is Not Doing


The light along the hills in the morning
comes down slowly, naming the trees
white, then coasting the ground for stones to nominate.

Notice what this poem is not doing.

A house, a house, a barn, the old
quarry, where the river shrugs--
how much of this place is yours?

Notice what this poem is not doing.

Every person gone has taken a stone
to hold, and catch the sun. The carving
says, "Not here, but called away."

Notice what this poem is not doing.

The sun, the earth, the sky, all wait.
The crowns and redbirds talk. The light
along the hills has come, has found you.

Notice what this poem has not done.

William Stafford

[sprach]

Nice, but I wonder if you have your own poem

[DebutsAndIDos]

Here is my poem that won first place in a poetry writing contest.
Quite long but you asked for it...

Pacific Baby

Across the vast aquamarine lawn
I awaken as like a fawn
Waltzing in the sea nymph’s dances
Bordering the sea’s nuances
Bits of driftwood float here and there
A bird flies out of nowhere
Azure seas kiss cherubim skies
Banishing all of humanity’s lies

Diamond sparkles around me
Angels smile down at me
The day is full of promises unkept
Dreams and plans and tears unwept

And so I gaze and contemplate
At the numb strangeness of fate
While the sea foam sprays and dances
To the tune of many lilting séances
And the meandering thoughts of the many
Dancers gliding beside me
Gliding, swimming, floating, leapt
Promises of God man never kept

Men bridge the sea with boats and ships
Devour the horizon greedily with their lips
And ships and cars and railroads long
Like Neptune’s trident with many prongs
So engrossed in their pomposity
Forgetting the joy in a sea anemone
But their dreams and plans soon disappear
Promises forgotten with nary a tear

It makes me wonder about our own end
When we must account for the talents lent
Shall we pay with plans and dreams
And promises that have never been
Or shall the seraphim glow above
Wondrous at our off’ rings of love
And shall we dance with cherubim and diamonds
Lilting to the Master’s nuances

And so I gaze and contemplate
A princess on a secret date
Reposing on an aquamarine lawn
Bathed by a late summer day’s dawn
While dreams, tears, and promises unkept
Shot past the horizon and the fishes leaptÂ* Â* Â*

[DebutsAndIDos]

back to William Stafford:

When I Met My Muse


I glanced at her and took my glasses
off--they were still singing. They buzzed
like a locust on the coffee table and then
ceased. Her voice belled forth, and the
sunlight bent. I felt the ceiling arch, and
knew that nails up there took a new grip
on whatever they touched. "I am your own
way of looking at things," she said. "When
you allow me to live with you, every
glance at the world around you will be
a sort of salvation." And I took her hand.

[sprach]

Very nice original poem! Thanks for the inspiraton! You must love the sea or swimming, too!

[DebutsAndIDos]

Yes, I love the sea. And I especially love sunsets at the sea.
That one was written almost 10 years ago while I watched the sunset from one of Oceanjet's open air seats while travelling to Bohol.

You love poems?
Can you share one of yours?

[sprach]

I love reading poems and digesting their meaning, but unfortunately, I can't just compose one without being ultra-inspired. The one and only poem I've ever written was more than ten years ago for someone very, very special, and I gave it away wihout keeping a copy. I guess that was for keeps. Anyhow, is William Stafford your favorite poet? Why so? Gee,you must really be talented to have written such a wonderful poem just on a trip aboard Oceanjet By the way, what's with your nick? I suppose you're in the business of designing wearables for such events or organizing the events themselves.

[DebutsAndIDos]

William Stafford is my favourite contemporary poet. I also love the classic poets.
I coordinate events and weddings. Hence, my nick.

Go ahead. Give it a try. Write a poem and post it here.
That's what the last poem I posted from Stafford is about: your muse is just your unique way of looking at life. So, write about you and your life.

Here is another one of my poems. written on an Easter afternoon years ago spent on the beach. Yes, again on the beach. It seems that where I am most inspired.


A Lazy Day at the Beach

Children’s chatter all around me,
I hear my blood pound
in synchrony with the crashing waves.
Plates of food spread their aroma
right under my nose.
I control my insatiable appetite
-or at least I try!-
while I sit on this hard wooden bench
and rub my aching behind.
Waves come pounding at the sand.
I quickly rise…
no- sit back down again,
breathe a deep sigh of release.
No need to worry,
the sand castles are safe for now.

There will be no tears to dry today,
only sun-kissed backs to soothe
on the ride home tonight.

[sprach]

You can really write! I don't think there are many of your kind hereabouts so I guess that makes you unique, huh!? hmmmm...a poet. The only other lady poet I seem to have read about who is from Cebu is that model with a foreign sounding name.