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39th out of 59 books
—
11 voters
The Way It Is: New and Selected Poems
William Stafford (1914-1993) was an earnest, perceptive, and often affecting American poet who filled his life and ours with poetry of challenge and consolation. The Way It Is: New and Selected Poems gathers unpublished works from his last year, including the poem he wrote the day he died, as well as an essential and wide-ranging selection of works from throughout his care...more
Paperback, 268 pages
Published
March 1st 1999
by Graywolf Press
(first published 1998)
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A friend whose reactions to the world I particularly admire posted a poem by William Stafford online recently; that was the first I'd heard of him. His collected poems mostly fall within a distinct emotional terrain - part stoic, part melancholy - and within it, they are wonderful. Stafford published his first book of poetry at age 48, and many of his poems focus on memories of his parents, aging and retirement, or how we live in the presence of transience and loss. His language is resolutely si...more
After nearly a decade of unjust war, torture, and human rights violations on the part of our government, I find myself exhausted of outrage and with little belief that any action of mine can cause any meaningful political change.
At such a time, I come to William Stafford as to a refuge.
Take, for example, "Something to Declare"
At such a time, I come to William Stafford as to a refuge.
Take, for example, "Something to Declare"
They have never had a war big enough...more
to slow that pulse in the earth under
our path near that old river.
Even as a swallow swims through the air
a certain day skips and returns
There are a lot of reasons the fan base of this deceased poet keeps growing. For readers of William Stafford, it is the wisdom of his message, his clear, comprehensible prose, his quiet urgency and subtle, honest emotions. His magic lies in not trying to be anything other than who he is. He is often playful but more often serious.
In a body of work this size, the themes become obvious. There is a calming presence coming up from the earth and down from the stars. In other words, it's everywhere -...more
In a body of work this size, the themes become obvious. There is a calming presence coming up from the earth and down from the stars. In other words, it's everywhere -...more
This is the first book I have finished for My Two-Thirds Book Challenge.
Sara picked this book up at the lovely Defunct Books in Iowa City. It is a nice used book store that sits atop The Red Avocado vegan restaurant. Two great places in such proximity!
At 268 pages, there are a lot of poems in this book, which cover a 36-year publication history (1960-1996). It even includes the poem he wrote on the day he died.
I quite enjoyed this book, copied out several poems and a handful or two of great line...more
Sara picked this book up at the lovely Defunct Books in Iowa City. It is a nice used book store that sits atop The Red Avocado vegan restaurant. Two great places in such proximity!
At 268 pages, there are a lot of poems in this book, which cover a 36-year publication history (1960-1996). It even includes the poem he wrote on the day he died.
I quite enjoyed this book, copied out several poems and a handful or two of great line...more
There are a few volumes of poetry I turn to again and again, and this is one. I was privileged to know Bill, and to give a reading with him at Powell's, which, needless to say, I could never do with Elizabeth Bishop, Emily Dickinson, Jane Kenyon, Octavio Paz, Wordsworth, or Keats. His work is of that quality, however, and my love for it is the same. Perpetual discovery of that moment, how it felt, what it meant at the time, what matters.
These are among the most accessible poems I have ever found. I feel like some of them have been written just for me. I am happy to have discovered William Stafford finally...and wonder how I missed him before! This collection includes poems he wrote in the last year of his life, including the last day of his life. Lovely preface by Nye.
'You there, reading this, be ready,' was read on my wedding day and I was ready...
I go back to stafford often. Someone says in the intoduction to 'The Way it is' that thre is a different stafford for everyone.
I love all the staffords - the playful, the funny, the important, the popular, the moral, the angry, the meditative, the sad..
I go back to stafford often. Someone says in the intoduction to 'The Way it is' that thre is a different stafford for everyone.
I love all the staffords - the playful, the funny, the important, the popular, the moral, the angry, the meditative, the sad..
I loved Stafford. His poetry delivers like drinking water: you don't realize how much you needed it until you've had your fill. I appreciate how short and yet substantial his works are; it starts to feel like beads on a necklace after a time, with each one different, and yet all of them speaking to the same big question.
The collection truly conveys the scope and power of Stafford’s poetry. Many of the poems in this collection have been widely anthologized, but the book is a great to explore the many subtleties of Stafford’s writing. Stafford’s work is immediately accessible and devastatingly tremendous in its simplicity.
I never read enough Stafford, and decided to do something about it. One of my fave volumes, the fellow Oregon transplant's simple but deep, image-rich language stirs me, soothes me, and always helps me look at the world differently.
Another book I'll have on my "currently-reading" shelf forever. Poetry--you can't just dash through it and if it is good you have to read it more than once. I love lines like this: "A voice within my shadow wakened me".
Along with Naomi Shihab Nye, William Stafford is my favorite English language poet. Accessible, easy to read and enjoy, hits the nail on the head sometimes with his statements and questions.
Just outstanding. Unpretentious, thoughtful, simple, excellent poetry.
One of my all-time favorite poetry anthologies. I dip into it often.
Good overview of much of his work.
Every poem offers something --
Mar 06, 2013
Leslie
marked it as to-read
Recommended by Merilyn
"Right has a long and intricate name./ And the saying of it is a lonely thing."
I think the best way to learn poetry is to take the a poem written by Stafford and knowing what he knows and what you know that may or may not be what he knows..... then with your mind like that, ,,,,, writer.
a wonderful compilation of stafford's work including each poem written the last year of his life. (he always tried to write a poem a day, so that's a decent bunch.)
stafford is one of my favorite poets, this collection manages to give you his life's work, plus a whole slew of new things that'd he'd just started putting down on paper. it's hard to say which bunch i enjoyed more.
stafford is one of my favorite poets, this collection manages to give you his life's work, plus a whole slew of new things that'd he'd just started putting down on paper. it's hard to say which bunch i enjoyed more.
This is the best introduction to Stafford, a great overview, and it includes a section entitled "There's a Thread You Follow," with a selection of 46 poems written the year of his death, sequenced according to date written. His practice was to write a one poem per day. His last poem, "Are you Mr. William Stafford?", will break your heart.
Stafford's writing while direct and plain is rich with observation and understanding of life. This is a book to return to again and again over the years, and I suspect find new meanings each time. Stafford's humility and love of nature shine in his writing. While they are different, as a fan of Mary Oliver I'd also recommend Stafford.
A marvelous, salt of the earth poet from Kansas. Read it is all I can say.
Sep 30, 2008
Russ
added it
His development as a poet and person is amazing. his words are so soft --yet his poetry is a comforting hand as you lay on the ground..One of the most gentle and gifted poets of all time.Truly a man of peace
Jun 18, 2008
Ash
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone interested in modern US poetry
Recommended to Ash by:
a blog
Shelves:
poetry
Wonderful introduction to Stafford. All his poems enchant me and it is so wonderful to have hundreds of pages of them to thumb through.
Highly recommended!
Highly recommended!
As with most poetry, I pick this book up over and again and the poems read anew each time. I have really deepened my appreciation for Stafford's work lately.
I mine this for wisdom every few months. It's like the Bible: every time I read it, I find something new.
simple, accessible nature and nature of the heart poetry from mr. oregon himself.
This book is superb. I will add some of his short poems here later.
May 13, 2007
Dan Rivas
is currently reading it
This book is always on my "currently-reading" shelf.
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William Edgar Stafford was an American poet and pacifist, and the father of poet and essayist Kim Stafford. He and his writings are sometimes identified with the Pacific Northwest.
More about William Edgar Stafford...
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1 trivia question
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“The earth says have a place, be what that place
requires; hear the sound the birds imply
and see as deep as ridges go behind
each other.”
—
5 people liked it
requires; hear the sound the birds imply
and see as deep as ridges go behind
each other.”
“This dream the world is having about itself
includes a trace on the plains of the Oregon trail,
a groove in the grass my father showed us all
one day while meadowlarks were trying to tell
something better about to happen.”
—
4 people liked it
More quotes…
includes a trace on the plains of the Oregon trail,
a groove in the grass my father showed us all
one day while meadowlarks were trying to tell
something better about to happen.”
27. August, 10:23 Uhr