William Stafford

William Stafford was born in Hutchinson, Kansas, in 1914. As a pacifist and conscientious objector he spent several of his early years working in the Civilian Public Service camps during the second World War. This is where he began his practice of daily writing, very early each morning. In 1948 he began teaching at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon. Over the course of his life, he taught, published more than 50 books, and travelled the world sharing his unassuming generousity and wonder. He died at his home in Lake Oswego, Oregon on August 28, 1993. Earlier that day he had written a poem, “Are you Mr. William Stafford?” In part he wrote, You can’t tell when strange things with meaning will happen. …”Just be ready for what God sends.” ₀₁

William Stafford’s words seem to express not just the posture of one man, but the sensibility of a profound listening. Indeed, it is easy to fall into the landscape with him, till at last it seems it is the thread of vision itself, the very earth in relationship, the dream of dreaming that has been speaking all along.

Kim Stafford provides an excellent brief biography of his father, William Stafford.

Writers have many things to be careful not to know – and strangely one of the things not to know is how to write.

Writing is a reckless encounter with whatever comes along.

Poems don’t just happen. They are luckily or stealthily related to a readiness within ourselves. …A good rule is – don’t respond unless you have to. But when you find you do have a response – trust it. It has a meaning.

There is a dream going on while I am awake. …When I die, the dream is the only thing left. It balloons and fills the world. _{02 various excerpts, William Stafford}

It is a small sadness for me that I did not discover William Stafford’s writing until after his death. Yet his dreaming does seem to fill the world, and I shall be content with that.

William Stafford had a large number of his writings published over his lifetime, and beyond. I will leave the more comprehensive and organized bibliographies to others. The following books include both those more commonly found in current print, as well also those found only as used copies from out-of-print booksellers. Once found, can be found again. Do however expect to make special orders and go on-line to find many of these books.

The Darkness Around Us Is Deep, Selected poems 1993 HarperCollins Publisher
Edited and with a foreword by Robert Bly.

An excellent collection of Stafford’s poems with an affectionate and meaningful introduction by his friend Robert Bly. This is probably the most frequently stocked book by local booksellers.

Even in Quiet Places 1996 Confluence Press
Afterword by Kim Stafford.

Learning to Live in the World, Earth Poems 1994 Harcourt Brace & Company

My Name is William Tell 1992 Confluence Press

The Way It Is, New and Selected Poems 1998 Graywolf Press

This is the most recent publication and undoubtedly the largest single collection with 252 poems of William Stafford. The selected poems include many of his later writings done not long before his death in 1993.

The Methow River Poems, Poetry in the Environment 1995 Confluence Press

Seven poems of the Methow river valley in north central Washington. Originally commissioned as interpretive signs for a water planning project, side tabled, then restored and the signs placed along the river in 1994. Now here published in print.

The following poetry collection books will be harder to find as they are out-of-print and will require patience and searching to obtain, as you wish.

Allegiances 1970 Harper & Row

An Oregon Message 1987 Harper & Row

Braided Apart 1976 Confluence Press

Poems by William Stafford. Poems and photographs by Kim Stafford.

Hearing Voices 1991 Willamette University

Roland Flint & William Stafford. Commemorates a poetry reading March 8, 1990 at Willamette University.

Kansas Poems 1990 Woodley Memorial Press

The Long Sigh the Wind Makes 1991 Adrienne Lee Press

Passwords 1991 HarperCollins

The Rescued Year 1952 Harper & Row

Roving Across Fields 1983 The Barnwood Press Cooperative

A conversation and uncollected poems 1942 – 1982, edited by Thom Tammaro.

Segues, A Correspondence in Poetry 1983 David R. Godine

A correspondence in poetry between William Stafford and Marvin Bell.

Smoke’s Way 1983 Greywolf Press

Poems from Limited Editions 1968 – 1981

Someday, Maybe 1973 Harper & Row

Stories That Could Be True, New and Collected Poems 1977 Harper & Row

Includes the complete poems originally published in West of Your City, 1960.

Things That Happen Where There Aren’t Any People 1980 BOA Editions

Traveling Through the Dark 1951 Harper & Row

Wyoming 1985 Ampersand Press

These books provide a wonderful, all be it brief, view of the man conversationally discussing life and writing. The Poets on Poetry series in particular contain more than might all be taken in one breath. He might “speak:” of poetry, yet as much as I can see there was a great consistency to this man – what might be said of a poem, might also be said of a life. Listen. Listen.

Writing the Australian Crawl ⁰² 1978 The University of Michigan Press
Views on the Writer’s Vocation, Part of the Poets on Poetry series.

You Must Revise Your Life 1986 The University of Michigan Press
Part of the Poets on Poetry series.

Crossing Unmarked Snow 1998 The University of Michigan Press
Further Views on the Writer’s Vocation, Part of the Poets on Poetry series.

The Answers Are Inside the Mountains 2003 The University of Michigan Press
Meditations on the Writing Life, Part of the Poets on Poetry series.

Down in My Heart 1947, 1971 The Bench Press, 1998 Oregon State University Press

This book is essentially a journal of his time working for the Civilian Public Service as a conscientious objector during the second World War. From his own foreword, “To me the book is a distanced object, a curiosity. But it has meaning, I think. At least it is a war relic, or a peace relic.”

The Animal That Drank Up Sound 1992 Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Publishers
Poem by William Stafford and illustrated by Debra Frasier,

ISBN 0-15-203563-X

When a mysterious animal drinks up all sound and leaves the earth all frozen and cold, a hidden cricket ushers in the return of spring. (Library of Congress, summary)

Getting the Knack, 20 Poetry Writing Exercises Stephen Dunning and William Stafford,
published 1992 National Council of Teachers of English, ISBN 0-8141-1848-8

An actual learning guide for students of poetry. “You can’t swim if you don’t get in. Writing is like that. You get the feel of it, and it takes you places you could never get any other way.” Rendered in good and easy care.

Early Morning, Remembering My Father, William Stafford
by Kim Stafford, 2002 Greywolf Press

As close as we are going to get now that William Stafford is gone. This remembering and story by his son Kim, does however in a way continue the poem of his father, his writing and life in one. The son of William yet a man and poet in his own right and voice. Like his father, he shares with an open heart and willing word.

These website links will open into new windows.

Friends of William Stafford
http://www.wmstafford.org

Lewis & Clark College – William Stafford Archive – Kim Stafford, Literary Executor
http://www.lclark.edu/~krs/archive.html

Here is the archive of the college in Portland, Oregon where he worked for the largest part of his adult life. Included are the best brief biography I’ve found and an extensive bibliography.

Graywolf Press – William Stafford Memorial page ⁰¹
http://www.graywolfpress.org/mainpages/stafford.html

Graywolf published Stafford’s most recent collection The Way It Is and several of his earlier works. This memorial page is a collection of personal reflections from a number of family and friends about their lives with William Stafford. I find myself returning here repeatedly for another drink from this well.

More Than Has Ever Been Found – 17 poems by William Stafford
http://www.newsfromnowhere.com/stafford/stafford00.html

The Sleep of Grass – A Tribute in Poetry to William Stafford
http://www.newsfromnowhere.com/home.html

Hutchinson Public Library – William Stafford Poetry and Commentary
http://www.hplsck.org/stafford.htm

William Stafford and Robert Bly – A Literary Friendship 1994
MenWeb – Men’s Issues, Video Review
http://www.menweb.org/blystafv.htm

Presented by Haydn Reiss and Magnolia Films, with RealAudo excerpts from the video. Robert Bly and William Stafford read a few of their poems and discuss the craft of poetry. An opportunity to purchase this video is also provided.

William Stafford – Modern American Poetry
http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/poets/s_z/stafford/stafford.htm

William Stafford Interview – Artful Dodge, an interview with Wm.Stafford by Jeff Gundy, August 1988
http://www.wooster.edu/artfuldodge/interviews/stafford.htm

Powell’s Books – Used, New and Rare Booksellers – Portland, Oregon
http://www.powells.com

In this age of cookie-cutter commerce, Powell’s is a pleasantly independant and friendly bookseller. Also, being of the city where Stafford lived and taught for four decades they are a more than ordinary source for his books. They are an excellent source for out-of-print and first edition books aswell. Get a list of books by William Stafford currently available from Powell’s bookstore.

William Stafford (poet) on Wikipedia

Photograph of William Stafford 1993, by Kim Stafford.