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Authors:

William Stafford quotes

American Poet January 17, 1914 – August 28, 1993

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Quotes

Ask MeSome time when the river is ice ask memistakes I have made. Ask me whetherwhat I have done is my life. Othershave come in their slow way intomy thought, and some have tried to helpor to hurt: ask me what differencetheir strongest love or hate has made. I will listen to what you say. You and I can turn and lookat the silent river and wait. We knowthe current is there, hidden; and thereare comings and goings from miles awaythat hold the stillness exactly before us. What the river says,... William Stafford
I keep following this sort of hidden river of my life, you know, whatever the topic or impulse which comes, I follow it along trustingly. And I don't have any sense of its coming to a kind of crescendo, or of its petering out either. It is just going steadily along. William Stafford
William Stafford quote: "Literature is not a picture of life, but is a separate..."
Literature is not a picture of life, but is a separate experience with its own kind of flow and enhancement. William Stafford
The Way It Is There’s a thread you follow. It goes among things that change. But it doesn’t change. People wonder about what you are pursuing. You have to explain about the thread. But it is hard for others to see. While you hold it you can’t get lost. Tragedies happen; people get hurt or die; and you suffer and get old. Nothing you do can stop time’s unfolding. You don’t ever let go of the thread. ~ William Stafford ~ William Stafford
If you don't know the kind of person I amand I don't know the kind of person you area pattern that others made may prevail in the worldand following the wrong god home we may miss our star.... 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 crueltyto know what occurs but not recognize the fact. William Stafford
William Stafford quote: "a pattern that others made may prevail in the world and..."
a pattern that others made may prevail in the world and following the wrong god home, we may miss our star. William Stafford
Once we have tasted far streams, touched the gold, found some limit beyond the waterfall, a season changes and we come back changed but safe, quiet, grateful. William Stafford
Those times you caught them out and showed them up -- they learned how stupid they are. But now you'll never hear the little song of their purring throats, and you'll never know what they think, when you say hello. William Stafford
William Stafford quote: "Kids: they dance before they learn there is anything that..."
Kids: they dance before they learn there is anything that isn't music William Stafford
Everyone is born a poet - a person discovering the way words sound and work, caring and delighting in words. I just kept on doing what everyone starts out doing. The real question is: Why did other people stop? William Stafford
They miss the whisper that runsany day in your mind,"Who are you really, wanderer?"--and the answer you have to giveno matter how dark and coldthe world around you is:"Maybe I'm a king. William Stafford
William Stafford quote: "When a goat likes a book, the whole book is gone, and the..."
When a goat likes a book, the whole book is gone, and the meaning has to go find an author again.- The Trouble With Reading William Stafford
Some people are blinded by their experience. Soldiers know how important war is. Owners of slaves learn every day how inferior subject peoples are. William Stafford
...What you fear will not go away; it will take you into yourself and bless you and keep you. That's the world, and we all live there. William Stafford
William Stafford quote: "There may be losses too great to understand. That rove after..."
There may be losses too great to understand. That rove after you and--faint and terrible-- rip unknown through your hand. William Stafford

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