'Just being there'

 

“You don't need many words if youalready know what you're talking about.” – William Stafford
 

Born on Jan. 17, 1914 Staffordtaught poetry and writing at Lewis & Clark College for more than 30 yearsbefore his first poetry collection, Traveling Through the Dark,was published.      Winnerof the National Book Award for that book, Stafford went on to publish more than60 volumes of poetry and prose and win numerous honors and awards, including serving asU.S. Poet Laureate before his death in 1993.  For Saturday’s Poem,here is Stafford’s,

 

                                             Just Thinking

                             Got up on a coolmorning. Leaned out a window.
                             No cloud,no wind. Air that flowers held
                             forawhile.  Some dove somewhere.

                            Been onprobation most of my life.  And
                            the rest ofmy life been condemned.  So these moments
                            count for alot -- peace, you know.

                            Let the bucketof memory down into the well,
                            bring it up.Cool, cool minutes.  No one
                            stirring, noplans.  Just being there.

                             This is whatthe whole thing is about.