This Life
July 6, 2023Security
July 6, 2023The Light By The Barn
The light by the barn that shines all night
pales at dawn when a little breeze comes.
A little breeze comes breathing the fields
from their sleep and waking the slow windmill.
The slow windmill sings the long day
about anguish and loss to the chickens at work.
The little breeze follows the slow windmill
and the chickens at work till the sun goes down–
Then the light by the barn again.
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.