A poem is a serious joke, a truth that has learned jujitsu. — William Stafford Crafts Copy Share Image
“Which of the horses we passed yesterday whinnied all night in my dreams? I want that one.” — William Stafford Dreams Copy Share Image
When a goat likes a book, the whole book is gone, and the meaning has to go find an author again. — William Stafford Book Copy Share Image
It's love,' they say. You touch the right one and a whole half of the universe wakes up, a new half. — William Stafford Copy Share Image
There is no such thing as writer's block for writers whose standards are low enough. — William Stafford Copy Share Image
You don't need many words if you already know what you're talking about. — William Stafford Copy Share Image
“We think it is calm here, or that our storm is the right size.” — William Stafford Calm Copy Share Image
Let the bucket of memory down into the well, bring it up. Cool, cool minutes. No one stirring, no plans. Just being… — William Stafford Copy Share Image
'Be alive,' the land says, 'listen - this is your time, your world, your pleasure.' — William Stafford Alive Copy Share Image
“Readers should not be loaded with more information and guidance than a lively mind needs--puzzlement can be accepted, but insulting clarity is… — William Stafford Books Copy Share Image
A writer is not so much someone who has something to say as he is someone who has found a process that… — William Stafford Copy Share Image
I don't see writing as a communication of something already discovered, as "truths" already known. Rather, I see writing as a job… — William Stafford Communication Copy Share Image
One way to find your place is like the rain, a million requests for lodging, one that wins, finds your cheek: you… — William Stafford Copy Share Image
...What you fear will not go away; it will take you into yourself and bless you and keep you. That's the world,… — William Stafford Copy Share Image
“I am your own way of looking at things," she said. "When you allow me to live with you, every glance at… — William Stafford Copy Share Image
You and I can turn and look at the silent river and wait. We know the current is there, hidden; and there… — William Stafford Copy Share Image
“When a goat likes a book, the whole book is gone, and the meaning has to go find an author again. -… — William Stafford Book Copy Share Image
“With Kit, Age Seven, at the Beach We would climb the highest dune, from there to gaze and come down: the ocean… — William Stafford Copy Share Image
A student brings something to discuss, saying, "I don't know whether this is really good, or whether I should throw it in… — William Stafford Copy Share Image
“ Why I Am Happy Now has come, an easy time. I let it roll. There is a lake somewhere so blue… — William Stafford Happiness Copy Share Image
The root and the flower have to trust each other. If the root does not trust, the plant won't blossom. — William Stafford Copy Share Image
And the things you know before you hear them; these are you and the reason you are in the world. — William Stafford Inspirational Copy Share Image
It is as if the ordinary language we use every day has a hidden set of signals, a kind of secret code. — William Stafford Code Copy Share Image
I just kept on doing what everyone starts out doing. The real question is, why did other people stop? — William Stafford People Copy Share Image
The signals we give-yes or no, or maybe-/should be clear/the darkness around us is deep. — William Stafford Copy Share Image
People wander about what you are pursuing. You have to explain about the thread. — William Stafford Journey Copy Share Image
Literature is not a picture of life, but is a separate experience with its own kind of flow and enhancement. — William Stafford Books Copy Share Image
When you allow me to live with you, every glance at the world around you will be a sort of salvation. — William Stafford Copy Share Image
You can treat experience as a set of surprises on which to exercise your quirky self. — William Stafford Exercise Copy Share Image
Others may be able to accept standards from another, but an artist is a person who decides. — William Stafford Copy Share Image
“. . . On a sandbar sunlight stretches out its limbs, or is it a sycamore, so brazen, so clean and bold?” — William Stafford Poetry Copy Share Image
An owl sound wandered along the road with me. I didn't hear it--I breathed it into my ears. — William Stafford Copy Share Image
Will you ever bring a better gift for the world than the breathing respect that you carry wherever you go right now? — William Stafford Breathing Copy Share Image
Security of character would be like a compass, you know? Other people may say that this way is north, or this way… — William Stafford Character Copy Share Image
The earth says have a place, be what that place requires; hear the sound the birds imply and see as deep as… — William Stafford Copy Share Image
You shouldn't have standards that inhibit you from writing It really doesn't make any difference if you are good or bad today.… — William Stafford Copy Share Image
All still when summer is over stand shocks in the field, nothing left to whisper, not even good-bye, to the wind. After… — William Stafford Copy Share Image
I am not learning definitions as established in even the latest dictionaries. I am not a dictionary-maker. I am a person a… — William Stafford Copy Share Image
