Poems used with permission
of Graywolf Press
and Confluence Press

More Than Has Ever Been Found

In response to the many people looking for some of Stafford's work online, here are 17 of his poems, some well-known and others that have not received as much attention. Reading these I'm reminded how much faith Stafford had in his own process of writing, in his own life. That kind of trust stands in stark contrast to much of the fretful and jittery teaching and criticism that often goes unchallenged these days. For new and experienced poets alike there may be no stronger tonic for the many ills that assail the writing life than Stafford's poems and his many essays about writing.

Poems included on this site:

• An Introduction to Some Poems
• Level Light
• Just Thinking
• "Are You Mr. William Stafford?"
• Ask Me
• A Ritual to Read to Each Other
• Traveling through the Dark
• Thinking for Berky
• Lit Instructor
• Waking at 3 a.m.
• My Name Is William Tell
• For My Young Friends Who Are Afraid
• When I Met My Muse
• Objector
• The Little Ways That Encourage Good Fortune
• The Light by the Barn
• Security

Thanks to Paul Merchant of the William Stafford Archives, Katie Dublinski of Graywolf Press, James Hepworth of Confluence Press, and Patty Wixon of TTTD Productions for their guidance and generosity.

"Level Light," "A Ritual to Read to Each Other," "Traveling through the Dark," "Thinking for Berky," "Lit Instructor," "An Introduction to Some Poems," "Waking at 3 a.m.," "The Little Ways That Encourage Good Fortune," "For My Young Friends Who Are Afraid," "Ask Me," "Objector," "When I Met My Muse," "The Light by the Barn," "Security," "Just Thinking," "'Are you Mr. William Stafford?'" copyright 1960, 1962, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1984, 1986, 1991, 1998 by the Estate of William Stafford. Reprinted with the permission of Graywolf Press, Saint Paul, Minnesota.

"My Name Is William Tell" is reproduced from My Name Is William Tell with the permission of Confluence Press. Copyright 1992 by William Stafford. All rights reserved. Contact: jimhepworth@cableone.net, Lewiston, Idaho.

Edited & photographs by Mark Mitchell, mark@newsfromnowhere.com.

CAUTION: Users are warned that this/these work(s) is protected under the copyright laws of the United States, and that distribution as printed material is strictly forbidden. For information concerning rights via any medium, contact Graywolf Press, 2402 University Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55114, (651) 641-0077, www.graywolfpress.org

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