I love living near a river, with all it has to teach me, and this poem is a perfect example of why William Stafford is one of my favorite poets.
Ask Me
Some time when the river is ice ask me
mistakes I have made. Ask me whether
what I have done is my life. Others
have come in their slow way into
my thought, and some have tried to help
or to hurt: ask me what difference
their strongest love or hate has made.
mistakes I have made. Ask me whether
what I have done is my life. Others
have come in their slow way into
my thought, and some have tried to help
or to hurt: ask me what difference
their strongest love or hate has made.
I will listen to what you say.
You and I can turn and look
at the silent river and wait. We know
the current is there, hidden; and there
are comings and goings from miles away
that hold the stillness exactly before us.
What the river says, that is what I say.
You and I can turn and look
at the silent river and wait. We know
the current is there, hidden; and there
are comings and goings from miles away
that hold the stillness exactly before us.
What the river says, that is what I say.
~ William Stafford
The photograph is mine.
Thought provoking poem and lovely picture.
ReplyDeleteHope you're staying warm! ;)
It's been so cold for November, but a slight warming starts today. I'm looking forward to it. :)
DeleteI love following rivers, I think of them as connectors of different parts of the countryside. Specially the Thames, my favourite river.
ReplyDeleteIn many ways, a river can shape our lives. My little river is a tributary of the Mississippi. I can certainly understand how the Thames would do so.
DeleteI've not read much Stafford, so nearly every poem is new. This one's lovely. I can see why it would be one of your favorites.
ReplyDeleteThere's a quality to his writing that tells me where his heart is. His writing feels so good to me.
DeleteThank you for the lovely picture and poem. :-)
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure. :)
DeleteOver 30 years ago, I would devote an evening half-hour or so to carrying my little daughter back and forth in the kitchen --the heart of the house-- and sing "Ole Man River" to her as I held her to my heart. And she would conk out. Recently she wrote that she attended a performance of a noted baritone in her home-city of Chicago and was enthralled, then surprised that when he launched into "Ole Man River" she felt unaccountably sleepy. I recommend Paul Robison's version --it's on Youtube.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful story. That is a great song to instill in a little one's life. And Paul Robeson's version is perfect, with all the depth the river carries. Thank you so much for sharing that.
DeleteThese words resonate so much with me. Thanks for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Bill, good to hear from you.
DeleteWater knows everything. It flows away, consoling people. Thanks for the great poem.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for visiting my blog and for your thoughtful comment.
DeleteDear Teresa, thank you for sharing Stafford's evocative poem. As I came to its last lines, I found myself almost breathless, like the water beneath the ice.
ReplyDeleteI've been away from blogging for some time--two years--and returned last year. But it's taken me a while to find you again. I used to live in Stillwater, MN., and followed your blog faithfully for several years. I hope you are still blogging, but if you are taking a needed break, then I hope you are being gracious to yourself and making new discoveries. Peace.
It's so good to see you again, Dee. I took a very long break, tried returning, but now I'm trying to spend less time online. I still post occasionally at my poetry blog but that has also lessened. I hope all is well with you. Thank you so much for commenting.
DeleteI love William Stafford's poetry and this poem in particular, Teresa. As you may have noticed, I've been absent from the blogging world for quite a while. I'm returning, however, with a new blog, "The Shape of Light." Looking forward to staying in touch with your blog, as well at the blogs of the other friends I made through the years with Transit Notes.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back. I've been more than a little absent myself. I'm here or over on my poetry blog only now and then, but look forward to seeing/reading your new blog.
DeleteTruly a beautiful poem. Literally about life, as it is supposed to be. We only see that which the mind can perceive. And, best of perceptions come from the wisest of minds!
ReplyDeleteI love these lines very much. They speak a depth unknown, of realities generally missed by most of us.
‘We know the current is there, hidden; and there
are comings and goings from miles away
that hold the stillness exactly before us.’
Yes, it is all perception and it is our "job" to choose wisely.
DeleteI'm glad you like the poem. I love those lines, as well. :)