William Stafford

William Stafford (1914-1993) was one of the most prolific and important American poets of the last half of the twentieth century. He wrote over 60 books of poetry in his lifetime. Stafford wrote every day of his life from 1950 to 1993. These 20,000 pages of daily writings form a complete record of the poet's mostly early morning meditations, including poem drafts, dream records, aphorisms, and other visits to the unconscious.

Starting With Little Things

Starting With Little Things

Love the earth like a mole,

fur-near. Nearsighted,

hold close the clods,

their fine-print headlines.

Pat them with soft hands –

Like spades, but pink and loving; they

break rock, nudge giants aside,

affable plow.

Fields are to touch;

each day nuzzle your way.

Tomorrow the world.

— William Stafford