Objector
July 6, 2023Just Thinking
July 6, 2023Notice 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
William Stafford (1914-1993) was an American poet and pacifist. He worked as a professor of English at Lewis & Clark College and authored over 50 books of poetry and prose. Stafford's poetry often explored themes of nature, peace, and the human experience. Some of his most famous works include "Traveling Through the Dark," "At the Un-National Monument Along the Canadian Border," and "The Way It Is." Stafford was known for his simple and direct language, and his ability to find beauty in everyday experiences.