Author: William Stafford

Even in the cave of the night when you Wake and are free and lonely, Neglected by others, discarded, loved […]

Tomorrow will have an island. Before night I always find it. Then on to the next island. These places hidden […]

The light by the barn that shines all night Pales at dawn when a little breeze comes. A little breeze […]

When I face north a lost Cree On some new shore puts a moccasin down, Rock in the light and […]

Some time when the river is ice ask me Mistakes I have made. Ask me whether What I have done […]

With Kit, Age 7, at the Beach We would climb the highest dune, From there to gaze and come down: […]

There is a country to cross you will Find in the corner of your eye, in The quick slip of […]

In line at lunch I cross my fork and spoon To ward off complicity the ordered life Our leaders have […]

1 Sometimes in the open you look up Where birds go by, or just nothing, And wait. A dim feeling […]

I put my foot in cold water And hold it there: early mornings They had to wade through broken ice […]

I glanced at her and took my glasses Off they were still singing. They buzzed Like a locust on the […]

In the late night listening from bed I have joined the ambulance or the patrol Screaming toward some drama, the […]

My family slept those level miles But like a bell rung deep till dawn I drove down an aisle of […]

It is time for all the heroes to go home If they have any, time for all of us common […]

Paw marks near one burrow show Graydigger At home, I bend low, from down there swivel My head, grasstop level […]

Got up on a cool morning. Leaned out a window. No cloud, no wind. Air that flowers held For awhile. […]

Day after day up there beating my wings With all the softness truth requires I feel them shrug whenever I […]